Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Columbus?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Columbus, GA's $1,090, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Columbus?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,090 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 11% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$529

$826

+56% in Columbus, GA

1 Bedroom

$576

$875

+52% in Columbus, GA

2 Bedroom

$824

$991

+20% in Columbus, GA

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,221

+32% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$182,300

+11% in Aberdeen, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$56,622

+11% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$43,540

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.1 yr

+0.7 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

50.2%

+8.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

29.7%

+3.9 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

20.2 min

+9.1 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

612.3

+123% in Columbus, GA

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,273.4

+60% in Columbus, GA

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

65.7°F

+22.7°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

46.8 in

+25.0 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Columbus, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

16.4

+7% in Columbus, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$38.60

+153% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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 / GA)

4.2%

+0.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.19%

+5.2 pp in GA

Aberdeen vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Columbus?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Columbus, GA's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Columbus?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% 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).