Cost of Living: Ames, IA vs Sioux City, IA

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,184/mo in Ames, IA versus $4,184/mo in Sioux City, IA. In the model, rent is about 15.15% of gross in Ames, IA versus 13.65% in Sioux City, IA, so Sioux City, IA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Ames, IA
$4,184/mo
Income level: above
Take-home in Sioux City, IA
$4,184/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Ames, IA
15.15%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Sioux City, IA
13.65%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Ames, IA and Sioux City, IA.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Sioux City, IA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Sioux City, IA
  • Lower home prices: Sioux City, IA
  • Higher median household income: Sioux City, IA

Cost of Living Index

Ames, IA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Sioux City, IA: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).

Median Rent

Ames, IA: $988/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Sioux City, IA: $890/mo

Median rent in Ames, IA is $98/mo higher than in Sioux City, IA.

Median Home Price

Ames, IA: $263,800 · Sioux City, IA: $162,600

Median home price in Ames, IA is $101,200 higher than in Sioux City, IA.

Median Household Income

Ames, IA: $60,102 · Sioux City, IA: $65,473

Sioux City, IA has a higher median household income than Ames, IA by $5,371.

Ames, IA overview · Sioux City, IA overview · Popular comparisons