Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Burlington?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $51,000 in Burlington.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Burlington?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Burlington Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,540 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 7% higher in Burlington, VT. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,284

+143% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,275

+121% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,731

+110% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$924

$2,002

+117% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$400,200

+95% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$68,854

+8% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$60,020

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

26.7 yr

+9.1 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

39.8%

+18.6 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

60.5%

+26.9 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

11.1 min

19.2 min

+8.1 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

497.1

+81% in Burlington, VT

Property Crime

1,421.2

4,408.9

+210% in Burlington, VT

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

46.0°F

+3.0°F in Burlington, VT

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

36.8 in

+15.1 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Burlington, VT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

24.4

+59% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$26.07

+71% in Burlington, VT

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 Burlington, VT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Burlington, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Burlington, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / VT)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

8.75%

+8.8 pp in VT

Aberdeen vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Burlington?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Burlington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Burlington?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).