Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $960 in Bismarck, ND. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $77,608 in Bismarck, ND — about 18% higher in Bismarck, ND. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Aberdeen vs Bismarck — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Bismarck?
- Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Bismarck, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Bismarck?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $32,000 in Bismarck.
- Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Bismarck?
- Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Bismarck under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 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).