Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 7% higher in Greenville, SC. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$529
$1,175
+122% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,113
+93% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,325
+61% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,550
+68% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$453,300
+121% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$68,460
+7% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
34.8 yr
+1.0 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
41.2%
+17.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
55.0%
+21.4 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
11.1 min
19.9 min
+8.8 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
649.8
+136% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
1,421.2
3,479.3
+145% in Greenville, SC

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
60.5°F
+17.5°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
50.8 in
+29.1 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Greenville, SC

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
15.6
+1% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$29.07
+90% in Greenville, SC

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 Greenville, SC
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / SC)
4.2%
6%
+1.8 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.00%
+6.0 pp in SC

Aberdeen vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Greenville?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Greenville?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).