Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Mesa?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Mesa?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,470 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 19% higher in Mesa, AZ. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,209

+129% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,288

+124% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,458

+77% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,819

+97% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$364,300

+77% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$78,779

+24% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,380

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

37.2 yr

+1.4 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

58.4%

64.4%

+6.0 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

31.5%

+2.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

25.0 min

+13.9 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

486.2

+77% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,488

+5% in Mesa, AZ

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

75.1°F

+32.1°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

8.0 in

+13.7 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.2

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$24.74

+62% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / AZ)

4.2%

5.6%

+1.4 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Aberdeen vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Mesa?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Mesa?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).