Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,210 in Bangor, ME. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $58,096 in Bangor, ME — about 9% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$529
$800
+51% in Bangor, ME
1 Bedroom
$576
$889
+54% in Bangor, ME
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,136
+38% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,224
+32% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$206,300
+0% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$58,096
+9% in Aberdeen, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
40.7 yr
+4.9 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
58.4%
46.9%
+11.5 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
36.3%
+2.7 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
11.1 min
17.0 min
+5.9 min in Bangor, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
161.4
+41% in Aberdeen, SD
Property Crime
1,421.2
4,259.8
+200% in Bangor, ME

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
44.3°F
+1.3°F in Bangor, ME
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
41.9 in
+20.2 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Bangor, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
29.6
+93% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$31.62
+107% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Bangor, ME
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Aberdeen, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Bangor, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Bangor, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Bangor, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / ME)
4.2%
5.5%
+1.3 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.15%
+7.2 pp in ME

Aberdeen vs Bangor — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Bangor?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Bangor?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $36,000 in Bangor.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Bangor?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Bangor under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).