Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Sioux Falls to Los Angeles
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Los Angeles has higher median income ($81,939 vs $75,970) and higher median home value ($921,200 vs $292,400) than Sioux Falls, but also substantially higher median gross rent ($1,933 vs $1,035) and longer commute (33 vs 18 minutes). The calculator applies a uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month and a simplified state income tax rate of 9.30% for Los Angeles, while no state tax rate is used for Sioux Falls due to lack of approved reference. These factors create a trade-off where Los Angeles offers greater income potential but at significantly higher housing costs and longer commutes, while Sioux Falls provides more affordable housing and shorter commutes with lower income levels.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → Sioux FallsMoving from Sioux Falls to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$898/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$10,776 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+15 min / day
Difference of ~125 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTSIO → LAX
29/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$8,808after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Sioux Falls is about $10,776 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Sioux Falls household income$75,970
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Sioux Falls gross rent$1,035
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 201,469 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $75,970 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,035 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $292,400 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 18 minutes in Sioux Falls and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Sioux Falls
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at 16.3%.. Watch affordability varies by neighborhood; citywide data masks local disparities..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between the two cities?
Los Angeles has a median gross rent of $1,933 per month and median home value of $921,200, while Sioux Falls has a median gross rent of $1,035 and median home value of $292,400, making housing significantly more affordable in Sioux Falls.
What is the difference in commute times between the cities?
The derived one-way commute estimate is 33 minutes in Los Angeles and 18 minutes in Sioux Falls, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303, resulting in a 15-minute shorter commute in Sioux Falls.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.