Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 5% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$529
$798
+51% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$576
$782
+36% in Fort Wayne, IN
2 Bedroom
$824
$984
+19% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,100
+19% in Fort Wayne, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$169,700
+17% in Aberdeen, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$60,293
+5% in Aberdeen, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$47,700

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
35.0 yr
+0.8 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
62.2%
+3.8 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
28.5%
+5.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Avg Commute
11.1 min
21.4 min
+10.3 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
308.9
+12% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
1,421.2
2,245.4
+58% in Fort Wayne, IN

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
50.5°F
+7.5°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
38.3 in
+16.6 in in Fort Wayne, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
17.5
+14% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$24.52
+61% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / IN)
4.2%
7%
+2.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
2.95%
+3.0 pp in IN

Aberdeen vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Fort Wayne?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Fort Wayne, IN's $980, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Fort Wayne?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).