Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Dallas?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $51,000 in Dallas.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Dallas?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Dallas Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,480 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 6% higher in Dallas, TX. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,259

+138% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,280

+122% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,500

+82% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,559

+69% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$295,300

+44% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$67,760

+6% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,440

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

33.4 yr

+2.4 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

42.4%

+16.0 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

37.4%

+3.8 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

11.1 min

26.0 min

+14.9 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

661.9

+141% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,412.9

+140% in Dallas, TX

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

67.2°F

+24.2°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

37.6 in

+15.9 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.58/gal

+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.9

+4% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$31.89

+109% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 / TX)

4.2%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Dallas?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Dallas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Dallas?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax 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).