Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Billings?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Billings.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Billings?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Billings under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Billings Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Billings

Montana

$1,040/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,040 in Billings, MT. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Billings, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $71,855 in Billings, MT — about 11% higher in Billings, MT. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Billings, MT

Rent

Studio

$529

$877

+66% in Billings, MT

1 Bedroom

$576

$889

+54% in Billings, MT

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,102

+34% in Billings, MT

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,398

+51% in Billings, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$311,800

+52% in Billings, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$71,855

+13% in Billings, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,060

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

38.1 yr

+2.3 yr in Billings, MT

Homeownership

58.4%

64.8%

+6.4 pp in Billings, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

37.0%

+3.4 pp in Billings, MT

Avg Commute

11.1 min

16.7 min

+5.6 min in Billings, MT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

750.2

+173% in Billings, MT

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,123.5

+120% in Billings, MT

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

48.2°F

+5.2°F in Billings, MT

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

13.7 in

+8.1 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Billings, MT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.1

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$10.12

+34% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Billings, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Billings, MT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Billings, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Billings, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MT)

4.2%

None

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.65%

+5.7 pp in MT

Aberdeen vs Billings — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Billings?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Billings, MT's $1,040, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Billings?: 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 Billings.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Billings?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Billings under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).