Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Jackson?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Jackson?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 32% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,085

+105% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$576

$816

+42% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$824

$991

+20% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,121

+21% in Jackson, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$108,200

+47% in Aberdeen, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$43,238

+32% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$42,850

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

34.7 yr

+1.1 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

48.6%

+9.8 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

28.6%

+5.0 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

20.2 min

+9.1 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

—

Property Crime

1,421.2

—

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

65.3°F

+22.3°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

54.3 in

+32.6 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Aberdeen, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.9

+3% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$29.04

+90% in Jackson, MS

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 Jackson, MS

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MS)

4.2%

+2.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Aberdeen vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Jackson?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Jackson?: 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 Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Jackson?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).