Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Manchester?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Manchester?

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

Aberdeen vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 18% higher in Manchester, NH. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$529

$880

+66% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,150

+100% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,593

+93% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,661

+80% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$336,300

+64% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$77,415

+22% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$56,530

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

37.9 yr

+2.1 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

58.4%

49.3%

+9.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

33.5%

+0.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

23.8 min

+12.7 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

339.5

+23% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,691.4

+19% in Manchester, NH

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

49.2°F

+6.2°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

44.6 in

+22.9 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Manchester, NH

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

27.0

+76% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$21.67

+42% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / NH)

4.2%

None

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Manchester?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Manchester?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire'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).