Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Aurora?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Aurora, IL's $1,390, 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 $47,000 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 Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Aurora

Illinois

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,390 in Aurora, IL. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $90,109 in Aurora, IL — about 29% higher in Aurora, IL. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Aurora, IL

Rent

Studio

$529

$893

+69% in Aurora, IL

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,183

+105% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,550

+88% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,797

+94% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$260,400

+27% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$90,109

+41% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$54,720

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.2 yr

+0.6 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

66.8%

+8.4 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

37.2%

+3.6 pp in Aurora, IL

Avg Commute

11.1 min

28.0 min

+16.9 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

269.4

+2% in Aberdeen, SD

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,247.4

+12% in Aberdeen, SD

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

49.9°F

+6.9°F in Aurora, IL

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

36.9 in

+15.2 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

19.9

+29% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$19.71

+29% in Aurora, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / IL)

4.2%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

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 47% below Aurora, IL's $1,390, 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 $47,000 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 Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).