Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Juneau?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Juneau?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 37% higher in Juneau, AK. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$529

$993

+88% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,257

+118% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,647

+100% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,949

+111% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$432,500

+110% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$100,513

+58% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

39.8 yr

+4.0 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

58.4%

64.4%

+6.0 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

40.5%

+6.9 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

11.1 min

15.8 min

+4.7 min in Juneau, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

515.6

+87% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,113.1

+49% in Juneau, AK

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

42.1°F

+0.9°F in Aberdeen, SD

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

62.3 in

+40.6 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Juneau, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

28.2

+84% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$17.35

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / AK)

4.2%

None

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Juneau?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Juneau?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).