Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Baltimore?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $43,000 in Baltimore.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Baltimore?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Baltimore under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Baltimore Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,300 in Baltimore, MD. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $59,623 in Baltimore, MD — about 6% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Baltimore, MD

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,050

+98% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,073

+86% in Baltimore, MD

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,353

+64% in Baltimore, MD

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,555

+68% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$219,300

+7% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$59,623

+6% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$59,070

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

36.1 yr

+0.3 yr in Baltimore, MD

Homeownership

58.4%

47.5%

+10.9 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

35.4%

+1.8 pp in Baltimore, MD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

29.4 min

+18.3 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

1,616.7

+488% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

1,421.2

4,202.6

+196% in Baltimore, MD

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

61.4°F

+18.4°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

42.4 in

+20.7 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Baltimore, MD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

21.8

+42% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$22.57

+48% in Baltimore, MD

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 Baltimore, MD

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MD)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.50%

+6.5 pp in MD

Aberdeen vs Baltimore — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Baltimore?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Baltimore?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $43,000 in Baltimore.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Baltimore?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Baltimore under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).