Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Boston?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 68% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $79,000 in Boston.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Boston?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Boston under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Boston Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $2,290 in Boston, MA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 68% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $94,755 in Boston, MA — about 33% higher in Boston, MA. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Boston, MA

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,890

+257% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,978

+243% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$824

$2,155

+162% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$924

$2,234

+142% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$710,400

+246% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$94,755

+49% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$66,620

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

33.2 yr

+2.6 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

35.4%

+23.0 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

54.1%

+20.5 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

11.1 min

30.2 min

+19.1 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

630.2

+129% in Boston, MA

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,030.8

+43% in Boston, MA

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

51.5°F

+8.5°F in Boston, MA

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

43.8 in

+22.1 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Boston, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.6

+93% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$30.66

+101% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Boston, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Boston, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MA)

4.2%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Aberdeen vs Boston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Boston?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 68% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Boston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $79,000 in Boston.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Boston?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Boston under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).