Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Chicago?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $50,000 in Chicago.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Chicago?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Chicago Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,470 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 15% higher in Chicago, IL. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,186

+124% in Chicago, IL

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,258

+118% in Chicago, IL

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,406

+71% in Chicago, IL

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,554

+68% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$315,200

+53% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$75,134

+18% in Chicago, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$54,720

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.7 yr

+0.1 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

45.5%

+12.9 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

43.3%

+9.7 pp in Chicago, IL

Avg Commute

11.1 min

33.5 min

+22.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

539.8

+96% in Chicago, IL

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,489.9

+146% in Chicago, IL

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

52.7°F

+9.7°F in Chicago, IL

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

38.0 in

+16.2 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.24/gal

+10% in Chicago, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

19.9

+29% in Chicago, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$19.71

+29% in Chicago, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / IL)

4.2%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Aberdeen vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Chicago?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Chicago, IL's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Chicago?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Chicago?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).