Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,380 in Arlington, TX. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $73,519 in Arlington, TX — about 13% higher in Arlington, TX. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$529
$1,088
+106% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,183
+105% in Arlington, TX
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,410
+71% in Arlington, TX
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,819
+97% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$276,400
+35% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$73,519
+15% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
33.6 yr
+2.2 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
54.8%
+3.6 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
33.1%
+0.5 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Avg Commute
11.1 min
26.7 min
+15.6 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
494.2
+80% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
1,421.2
2,434.5
+71% in Arlington, TX

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
65.4°F
+22.4°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
39.6 in
+17.9 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.58/gal
+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A

Adult base one-way fare — vs Arlington On-Demand (Via) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
15.9
+4% in Arlington, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$31.89
+109% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Aberdeen, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Arlington, TX
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Aberdeen, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Aberdeen, SD
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Aberdeen, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / TX)
4.2%
6.25%
+2.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Aberdeen vs Arlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Arlington?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Arlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $47,000 in Arlington.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Arlington?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Arlington under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).