Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Columbus?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, 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 $42,000 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 Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,270 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 2% higher in Columbus, OH. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,014

+92% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,059

+84% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,276

+55% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,369

+48% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$234,500

+14% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$65,327

+3% in Columbus, OH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,340

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

33.0 yr

+2.8 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

44.3%

+14.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

38.2%

+4.6 pp in Columbus, OH

Avg Commute

11.1 min

21.8 min

+10.7 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

485.2

+76% in Columbus, OH

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,093.9

+118% in Columbus, OH

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 Columbus, OH

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

40.1 in

+18.4 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.80/gal

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

19.2

+25% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$22.83

+50% in Columbus, OH

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 / OH)

4.2%

5.75%

+1.5 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.75%

+2.8 pp in OH

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 42% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, 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 $42,000 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 Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).