Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Casper?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Casper, WY's $930, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $31,000 in Casper.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Casper?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Casper under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Casper Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Casper

Wyoming

$930/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $930 in Casper, WY. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Casper, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $69,171 in Casper, WY — about 8% higher in Casper, WY. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Casper, WY

Rent

Studio

$529

$730

+38% in Casper, WY

1 Bedroom

$576

$764

+33% in Casper, WY

2 Bedroom

$824

$930

+13% in Casper, WY

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,299

+41% in Casper, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$250,700

+22% in Casper, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$69,171

+9% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$48,880

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

37.0 yr

+1.2 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

58.4%

70.3%

+11.9 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

30.0%

+3.6 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

16.9 min

+5.8 min in Casper, WY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

302.4

+10% in Casper, WY

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,123.8

+49% in Casper, WY

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

45.4°F

+2.4°F in Casper, WY

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

12.5 in

+9.2 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Casper, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.2

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$18.28

+20% in Casper, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Casper, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Casper, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / WY)

4.2%

+0.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Casper — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Casper?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Casper, WY's $930, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Casper?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $31,000 in Casper.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Casper?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Casper under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% 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).