Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Boise?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Boise, ID's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $45,000 in Boise.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Boise?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Boise under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Boise Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Boise

Idaho

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,280 in Boise, ID. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $81,308 in Boise, ID — about 22% higher in Boise, ID. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Boise, ID

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,021

+93% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,133

+97% in Boise, ID

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,342

+63% in Boise, ID

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,749

+89% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$456,000

+122% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$81,308

+28% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,100

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

38.2 yr

+2.4 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

58.4%

63.0%

+4.6 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

46.6%

+13.0 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

11.1 min

19.1 min

+8.0 min in Boise, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

301

+9% in Boise, ID

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,135.1

+20% 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

52.5°F

+9.5°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

11.7 in

+10.0 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Boise, ID

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.4

+6% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$11.33

+26% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / ID)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Aberdeen vs Boise — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Boise?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Boise, ID's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Boise?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $45,000 in Boise.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Boise?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Boise under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).