Cost to Own
United States › Iowa › Woodbury County › Sioux City Population 85,651 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-22
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $620 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Woodbury County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Sioux City, Iowa

A $163,000 home here costs

$1,516

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $65,000 a year.

P&I 59%Tax 14%Insurance 5%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $896. The real number is $620 higher every month, 69% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Woodbury County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Sioux City median: $162,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
IA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $130,400 borrowed $896
Property tax1.565% effective rate for Sioux City itself $213
Homeowners insuranceIowa averages $1,043/yr (NAIC), or 0.522% of home value $71
Electricity15.99ยข/kWh, Iowa residential average, EIA $133
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $136
Total monthly $1,516

Sioux City against Woodbury County and Iowa

MeasureSioux CityWoodbury County
Median home value$162,600$172,000
Median property tax$2,544$2,542
Effective tax rate1.565%1.478%
Median gross rent$936$946
Population85,651105,760

Sioux City extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Woodbury County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Sioux City sits in Woodbury County, which averages a high of 85.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.4°F in its coldest, with 29.27" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 866 cooling and 6,860 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Woodbury County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Woodbury County

Full Woodbury County cost breakdown · Every county in Iowa

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Sioux City averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Sioux City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Sioux City I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Sioux City?

A $163,000 home in Sioux City, Iowa costs approximately $1,516 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $896 principal and interest, $213 property tax, $71 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $136 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Sioux City?

Sioux City has an effective property tax rate of 1.565%, based on a median home value of $162,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,544. That is higher than the Woodbury County average of 1.478%.

What is the average home price in Sioux City?

The median owner-occupied home value in Sioux City, Iowa is $162,600, against $172,000 across Woodbury County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sioux City?

Median gross rent in Sioux City is $936 a month, against $1,516 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Sioux City?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sioux City, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $65,000 a year. That covers the full $1,516 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Sioux City, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Iowa.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology