Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Eugene?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Eugene?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $63,836 in Eugene, OR. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,011

+91% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,080

+88% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,411

+71% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,674

+81% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$435,400

+112% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$63,836

+0% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,680

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.4 yr

+0.4 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

47.6%

+10.8 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

44.2%

+10.6 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

11.1 min

18.6 min

+7.5 min in Eugene, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

319.6

+16% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,348.9

+136% in Eugene, OR

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

52.5°F

+9.5°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

46.1 in

+24.4 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Eugene, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

16.3

+6% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$21.60

+42% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / OR)

4.2%

None

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.90%

+9.9 pp in OR

Aberdeen vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Eugene?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Eugene?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).