Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Detroit?

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

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Detroit?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Detroit under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Detroit Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Detroit

Michigan

$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 Detroit, MI. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Detroit, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $39,575 in Detroit, MI — about 38% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Detroit, MI

Rent

Studio

$529

$801

+51% in Detroit, MI

1 Bedroom

$576

$752

+31% in Detroit, MI

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,001

+21% in Detroit, MI

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,195

+29% in Detroit, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$76,800

+63% in Aberdeen, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$39,575

+38% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$52,080

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.1 yr

+0.7 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

49.7%

+8.7 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

17.6%

+16.0 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

25.4 min

+14.3 min in Detroit, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

1,783.4

+549% in Detroit, MI

Property Crime

1,421.2

4,391.6

+209% in Detroit, MI

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

50.3°F

+7.3°F in Detroit, MI

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

31.3 in

+9.6 in in Detroit, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

23.0

+50% in Detroit, MI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$19.72

+29% in Detroit, MI

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 / MI)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in MI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.25%

+4.3 pp in MI

Aberdeen vs Detroit — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Detroit?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Detroit, MI's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Detroit?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $30,000 in Detroit.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Detroit?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Detroit under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).