Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Hilo?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $39,000 in Hilo.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Hilo?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Hilo Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 19% higher in Hilo, HI. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Hilo, HI

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,180

+123% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$576

$964

+67% in Hilo, HI

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,283

+56% in Hilo, HI

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,587

+72% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$455,100

+121% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$78,713

+24% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,820

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

42.6 yr

+6.8 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

58.4%

65.5%

+7.1 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

34.0%

+0.4 pp in Hilo, HI

Avg Commute

11.1 min

20.1 min

+9.0 min in Hilo, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

245.4

+11% in Aberdeen, SD

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,043.9

+44% in Hilo, HI

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

73.9°F

+30.9°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

126.7 in

+105.0 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Hilo, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

52.7

+243% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$66.84

+338% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Hilo, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Hilo, HI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Hilo, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / HI)

4.2%

+0.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

11.00%

+11.0 pp in HI

Aberdeen vs Hilo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Hilo?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Hilo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $39,000 in Hilo.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Hilo?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).