Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Cheyenne?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Cheyenne?

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

Aberdeen vs Cheyenne Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Cheyenne

Wyoming

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $990 in Cheyenne, WY. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cheyenne, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $77,176 in Cheyenne, WY — about 17% higher in Cheyenne, 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

Cheyenne, WY

Rent

Studio

$529

$756

+43% in Cheyenne, WY

1 Bedroom

$576

$824

+43% in Cheyenne, WY

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,036

+26% in Cheyenne, WY

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,478

+60% in Cheyenne, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$311,200

+51% in Cheyenne, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$77,176

+21% in Cheyenne, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,540

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

38.9 yr

+3.1 yr in Cheyenne, WY

Homeownership

58.4%

67.7%

+9.3 pp in Cheyenne, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

32.9%

+0.7 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

16.1 min

+5.0 min in Cheyenne, WY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

334.6

+22% in Cheyenne, WY

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,030.3

+113% in Cheyenne, 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

46.5°F

+3.5°F in Cheyenne, WY

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

15.9 in

+5.8 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Cheyenne, 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 Cheyenne, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Cheyenne, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Cheyenne, WY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Cheyenne, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Cheyenne, 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 Cheyenne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Cheyenne?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Cheyenne, WY's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Cheyenne?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $33,000 in Cheyenne.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Cheyenne?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Cheyenne 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).