Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Idaho Falls?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Idaho Falls?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Idaho Falls Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 8% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio

$529

$818

+55% in Idaho Falls, ID

1 Bedroom

$576

$827

+44% in Idaho Falls, ID

2 Bedroom

$824

$957

+16% in Idaho Falls, ID

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,278

+38% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$298,600

+45% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$69,630

+9% in Idaho Falls, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$46,800

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

33.5 yr

+2.3 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

64.1%

+5.7 pp in Idaho Falls, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

31.0%

+2.6 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

18.2 min

+7.1 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

365.3

+33% in Idaho Falls, ID

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,235.5

+13% in Aberdeen, SD

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

44.2°F

+1.2°F in Idaho Falls, ID

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

10.4 in

+11.3 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.4

+6% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$11.33

+26% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Idaho Falls, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Idaho Falls, ID

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Idaho Falls, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / ID)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Aberdeen vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Idaho Falls?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Idaho Falls?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Idaho Falls?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).