Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Missoula?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Missoula?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 2% higher in Missoula, MT. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$529

$755

+43% in Missoula, MT

1 Bedroom

$576

$953

+65% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,176

+43% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,676

+81% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$427,400

+108% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$65,329

+3% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,830

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

34.3 yr

+1.5 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

47.8%

+10.6 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

51.7%

+18.1 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

11.1 min

16.6 min

+5.5 min in Missoula, MT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

601.9

+119% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,685.2

+159% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+2.9°F in Missoula, MT

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

14.1 in

+7.6 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Missoula, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.1

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$10.12

+34% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MT)

4.2%

None

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.65%

+5.7 pp in MT

Aberdeen vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Missoula?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Missoula?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).