Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or New Orleans?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $41,000 in New Orleans.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or New Orleans?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs New Orleans Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 13% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio

$529

$953

+80% in New Orleans, LA

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,019

+77% in New Orleans, LA

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,287

+56% in New Orleans, LA

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,392

+51% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$296,400

+44% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$55,339

+13% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,290

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

38.4 yr

+2.6 yr in New Orleans, LA

Homeownership

58.4%

50.5%

+7.9 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

42.0%

+8.4 pp in New Orleans, LA

Avg Commute

11.1 min

22.7 min

+11.6 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

1,361.1

+395% in New Orleans, LA

Property Crime

1,421.2

5,089.6

+258% in New Orleans, LA

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

70.6°F

+27.6°F in New Orleans, LA

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

62.3 in

+40.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Aberdeen, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

13.5

+12% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$16.62

+9% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in New Orleans, LA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Aberdeen, SD

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / LA)

4.2%

+0.8 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Aberdeen vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or New Orleans?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in New Orleans?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or New Orleans?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).