Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Cambridge?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 74% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Cambridge?

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

Aberdeen vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 74% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 50% higher in Cambridge, 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

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$529

$2,236

+323% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$576

$2,496

+333% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$824

$2,980

+262% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$924

$3,325

+260% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$1,040,500

+406% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$126,469

+98% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$66,620

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

30.5 yr

+5.3 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

33.7%

+24.7 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

80.2%

+46.6 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

11.1 min

26.1 min

+15.0 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

436.7

+59% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,657.6

+87% in Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

43.8 in

+22.1 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.6

+93% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$30.66

+101% in Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cambridge, 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 Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Cambridge?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 74% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Cambridge?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Cambridge 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).