Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Charleston?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Charleston?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 29% higher in Charleston, SC. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,579

+198% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,430

+148% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,684

+104% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$924

$2,076

+125% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$469,100

+128% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$90,038

+41% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,150

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

36.1 yr

+0.3 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

58.4%

55.6%

+2.8 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

57.7%

+24.1 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

11.1 min

23.8 min

+12.7 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

358.8

+30% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,035.1

+43% in Charleston, SC

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

66.7°F

+23.7°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

44.4 in

+22.7 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Charleston, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.6

+1% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$29.07

+90% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Charleston, SC

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Aberdeen, SD

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / SC)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.00%

+6.0 pp in SC

Aberdeen vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Charleston?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Charleston?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).