Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Las Vegas?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Las Vegas?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 10% higher in Las Vegas, NV. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$529

$992

+88% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,181

+105% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,401

+70% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,740

+88% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$395,300

+92% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$70,723

+11% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$46,670

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

38.5 yr

+2.7 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

58.4%

55.7%

+2.7 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

27.3%

+6.3 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

25.8 min

+14.7 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

433.3

+58% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

1,421.2

2,642.1

+86% in Las Vegas, NV

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

68.4°F

+25.4°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

5.4 in

+16.3 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

13.1

+15% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$13.83

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / NV)

4.2%

6.85%

+2.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Las Vegas?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Las Vegas?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).