Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Long Beach

California

$1,970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,970 in Long Beach, CA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 62% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $83,969 in Long Beach, CA — about 24% higher in Long Beach, CA. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$529
$1,447
+174% in Long Beach, CA
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,634
+184% in Long Beach, CA
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,979
+140% in Long Beach, CA
3 Bedroom
$924
$2,360
+155% in Long Beach, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$762,200
+271% in Long Beach, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$83,969
+32% in Long Beach, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
36.8 yr
+1.0 yr in Long Beach, CA
Homeownership
58.4%
40.9%
+17.5 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
34.8%
+1.2 pp in Long Beach, CA
Avg Commute
11.1 min
30.0 min
+18.9 min in Long Beach, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
690
+151% in Long Beach, CA
Property Crime
1,421.2
3,584.4
+152% in Long Beach, CA

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
64.7°F
+21.7°F in Long Beach, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
12.3 in
+9.5 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.53/gal
+44% in Long Beach, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — vs Long Beach Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
34.7
+126% in Long Beach, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$20.33
+33% in Long Beach, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Long Beach, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Long Beach, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Aberdeen, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Long Beach, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Aberdeen, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Long Beach, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / CA)
4.2%
7.25%
+3.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
13.30%
+13.3 pp in CA

Aberdeen vs Long Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Long Beach?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 62% below Long Beach, CA's $1,970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Long Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $65,000 in Long Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Long Beach?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Long Beach under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).