Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI — about 21% higher in Ann Arbor, MI. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD
Ann Arbor, MI

Rent

Studio
$529
$1,274
+141% in Ann Arbor, MI
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,389
+141% in Ann Arbor, MI
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,692
+105% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,812
+96% in Ann Arbor, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$435,100
+112% in Ann Arbor, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$81,089
+27% in Ann Arbor, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$55,380

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
27.7 yr
+8.1 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
45.6%
+12.8 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
77.7%
+44.1 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
11.1 min
19.9 min
+8.8 min in Ann Arbor, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
311
+13% in Ann Arbor, MI
Property Crime
1,421.2
1,744.5
+23% in Ann Arbor, MI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
43.0°F
47.7°F
+4.7°F in Ann Arbor, MI
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
32.8 in
+11.1 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
23.0
+50% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$19.72
+29% in Ann Arbor, MI

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MI)
4.2%
6%
+1.8 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.25%
+4.3 pp in MI

Aberdeen vs Ann Arbor — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Ann Arbor?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Ann Arbor, MI's $1,630, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Ann Arbor?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $56,000 in Ann Arbor.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Ann Arbor?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Ann Arbor under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).