Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 11% higher in Newark, DE. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$529
$1,649
+212% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,391
+141% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,513
+84% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,916
+107% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$357,600
+74% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$71,373
+12% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$54,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
22.0 yr
+13.8 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
50.3%
+8.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
57.5%
+23.9 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
11.1 min
19.6 min
+8.5 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
326.3
+19% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
1,421.2
2,024.6
+42% in Newark, DE

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
54.9°F
+11.9°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
43.1 in
+21.4 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
19.3
+26% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$29.73
+95% in Newark, DE

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 Newark, DE
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / DE)
4.2%
None
+4.2 pp in SD
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.60%
+6.6 pp in DE

Aberdeen vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Newark?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Newark?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).