Salary Needed to Live in Sioux Falls as a Single

A single adult living independently needs approximately $50,081/year to live comfortably in Sioux Falls, SD, including 10% savings.

Direct Answer

A single person needs about $50,081/year to live comfortably in Sioux Falls, SD. The bare-minimum salary is $43,314/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 10% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $3,014.

The minimum scenario leaves about $2,671/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $4,173/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$50,081
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$43,314
$3,610/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$2,671
24% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Sioux Falls

ExpenseSioux FallsNat'l AvgDiff
Studio/1BR Rent$725$1,351-46%
Groceries$208$2070%
Utilities$151$169-11%
Transportation$284$316-10%
Car Insurance$176$211-17%
Health Insurance$534$630-15%
Internet$60$65-8%
Phone$78$85-8%
Dining & Social$276$300-8%
Entertainment$110$120-8%
Personal Care$69$75-8%
Total Monthly$2,671$3,529-24%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$2,671
Target savings (10%):$343/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$3,014
Effective tax rate:26%

Gross annual salary needed:$50,081

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$725

Studio/1BR rent is 27% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
26%

Estimated federal plus SD state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
10%

$343/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
92/100

Sioux Falls is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby midwest Cities

Milwaukee, WI
$51,806/yr
$1,725 more than Sioux Falls
Lincoln, NE
$52,013/yr
$1,932 more than Sioux Falls
Indianapolis, IN
$52,725/yr
$2,644 more than Sioux Falls
Omaha, NE
$51,750/yr
$1,669 more than Sioux Falls

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep studio/1br housing near $725/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $593/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone.
  3. Use $43,314/year as the survival floor and $50,081/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Sioux Falls

Couple (No Kids)
$65,439/yr
$3,381/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$111,966/yr
$5,505/mo expenses
Retiree
$47,600/yr
$2,737/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in Sioux FallsCity OverviewRent in Sioux FallsMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a single person need in Sioux Falls?
A single person needs approximately $50,081/year ($4,173/month gross) to live comfortably in Sioux Falls with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Sioux Falls?
A studio/1br in Sioux Falls costs approximately $725/month, which is the largest single expense at 27% of the total budget.
Is Sioux Falls affordable for a single person?
Yes, Sioux Falls is 24% more affordable than the national average for a single person.
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