Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Hartford?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $42,000 in Hartford.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Hartford?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Hartford Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Hartford

Connecticut

$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 Hartford, CT. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 29% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio

$529

$973

+84% in Hartford, CT

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,042

+81% in Hartford, CT

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,296

+57% in Hartford, CT

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,433

+55% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$217,200

+6% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$45,300

+29% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$59,940

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

33.4 yr

+2.4 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

25.7%

+32.7 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

18.3%

+15.3 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

22.8 min

+11.7 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

527.5

+92% in Hartford, CT

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,949.2

+108% in Hartford, CT

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

51.2°F

+8.2°F in Hartford, CT

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

43.6 in

+21.9 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Hartford, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

24.3

+58% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$23.33

+53% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Hartford, CT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Hartford, CT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / CT)

4.2%

6.35%

+2.1 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Aberdeen vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Hartford?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Hartford?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Hartford?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).