Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Bellevue

Nebraska

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,160 in Bellevue, NE. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bellevue, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $87,343 in Bellevue, NE — about 27% higher in Bellevue, NE. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$529
$1,106
+109% in Bellevue, NE
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,008
+75% in Bellevue, NE
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,190
+44% in Bellevue, NE
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,660
+80% in Bellevue, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$230,800
+12% in Bellevue, NE

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$87,343
+37% in Bellevue, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
36.1 yr
+0.3 yr in Bellevue, NE
Homeownership
58.4%
65.5%
+7.1 pp in Bellevue, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
33.4%
+0.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Avg Commute
11.1 min
20.8 min
+9.7 min in Bellevue, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
100.8
+63% in Aberdeen, SD
Property Crime
1,421.2
1,149.4
+19% 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
51.1°F
+8.1°F in Bellevue, NE
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
30.6 in
+8.9 in in Bellevue, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
13.3
+14% in Aberdeen, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$20.10
+32% in Bellevue, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / NE)
4.2%
5.5%
+1.3 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.55%
+4.5 pp in NE

Aberdeen vs Bellevue — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Bellevue?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Bellevue, NE's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Bellevue?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $40,000 in Bellevue.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Bellevue?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Bellevue under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% 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).