Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Laramie?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Laramie, WY's $890, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Laramie?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Laramie, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 18% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$529

$667

+26% in Laramie, WY

1 Bedroom

$576

$728

+26% in Laramie, WY

2 Bedroom

$824

$883

+7% in Laramie, WY

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,423

+54% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$302,200

+47% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$52,414

+18% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

26.9 yr

+8.9 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

44.1%

+14.3 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

55.8%

+22.2 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

11.1 min

13.5 min

+2.4 min in Laramie, WY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

129.6

+53% in Aberdeen, SD

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,175.9

+17% 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

41.0°F

+2.0°F in Aberdeen, SD

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

10.9 in

+10.8 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Laramie, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.2

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$18.28

+20% in Laramie, WY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / WY)

4.2%

+0.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Laramie?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Laramie, WY's $890, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Laramie?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax 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).