Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Aurora?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Aurora?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $46,000 in Aurora.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Aurora?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,310 in Aurora, CO. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $85,364 in Aurora, CO — about 25% higher in Aurora, CO. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Aurora, CO

Rent

Studio

$529

—

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,138

+98% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$824

$2,284

+177% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$924

$2,320

+151% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$689,000

+235% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$85,364

+34% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$62,320

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.3 yr

+0.5 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

46.0%

+12.4 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

41.4%

+7.8 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

11.1 min

18.7 min

+7.6 min in Aurora, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

952.9

+247% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,368.1

+137% in Aurora, CO

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

50.2°F

+7.2°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

15.6 in

+6.1 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.13/gal

+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTD (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

17.1

+12% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$15.05

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / CO)

4.2%

2.9%

+1.3 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.40%

+4.4 pp in CO

Aberdeen vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Aurora?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $46,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Aurora?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).