$80K in Birmingham = $83,810 in Sioux Falls

Your $80K salary in Birmingham (COL 84) has the same purchasing power as $83,810 in Sioux Falls (COL 88). Sioux Falls is more expensive โ€” you'd need 5% more to maintain the same lifestyle.

$80K in Birmingham, AL
$4,723/mo take-home
Rent: $1,200/mo (25% of take-home)
Comfortable
$83,810/yr in Sioux Falls, SD
$5,297/mo take-home
Rent: $1,250/mo (24% of take-home)
Comfortable

Budget breakdown โ€” $80K in both cities

What $80K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Birmingham
$80K
Sioux Falls
$80K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$4,723$5,057
1BR rent$1,200$1,250
Groceries$357$365
Transport$40$42
Utilities$175$155
Internet$58$60
Left after essentials$2,893/month$3,185/month
To match your Birmingham purchasing power in Sioux Falls, you'd need to earn $83,810/year (5% more than $80K). At that salary, you'd have $3,425/mo left after essentials โ€” vs $2,893/mo in Birmingham.

Frequently asked questions

What is $80K in Birmingham equivalent to in Sioux Falls?

$80K in Birmingham (COL index 84) has the same purchasing power as $83,810 in Sioux Falls (COL index 88). That's 5% more than your current salary.

If I move from Birmingham to Sioux Falls keeping my $80K salary, will I be better off?

Not necessarily. Core expenses in Sioux Falls are higher, so on the same $80K salary you'd have $292 less per month. You'd need to earn $83,810 to maintain the same standard of living.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $80K ร— (88 รท 84) = $83,810. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow ยท BLS ยท Numbeo ยท Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only