$80K in Scottsdale = $60,171 in Sioux Falls

Your $80K salary in Scottsdale (COL 117) has the same purchasing power as $60,171 in Sioux Falls (COL 88). Sioux Falls is cheaper โ€” your money goes 25% further there.

$80K in Scottsdale, AZ
$4,890/mo take-home
Rent: $2,000/mo (41% of take-home)
Tight
$60,171/yr in Sioux Falls, SD
$3,803/mo take-home
Rent: $1,250/mo (33% of take-home)
Manageable

Budget breakdown โ€” $80K in both cities

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

Expense
Scottsdale
$80K
Sioux Falls
$80K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$4,890$5,057
1BR rent$2,000$1,250
Groceries$395$365
Transport$50$42
Utilities$215$155
Internet$65$60
Left after essentials$2,165/month$3,185/month
To match your Scottsdale purchasing power in Sioux Falls, you'd need to earn $60,171/year (25% less than $80K). At that salary, you'd have $1,931/mo left after essentials โ€” vs $2,165/mo in Scottsdale.

Frequently asked questions

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

$80K in Scottsdale (COL index 117) has the same purchasing power as $60,171 in Sioux Falls (COL index 88). That's 25% less than your current salary.

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

Yes. If you keep earning $80K after moving to Sioux Falls, you'd have $1,020 more per month after core expenses โ€” because Sioux Falls is cheaper than Scottsdale.

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 117) = $60,171. 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