Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Newark?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Newark, NJ's $1,230, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,230 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 24% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,111

+110% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$576

$978

+70% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,386

+68% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,695

+83% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$337,800

+64% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$48,416

+24% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$61,430

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

34.8 yr

+1.0 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

24.1%

+34.3 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

17.4%

+16.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

33.2 min

+22.1 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

582.5

+112% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,961.8

+38% in Newark, NJ

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, NJ

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

46.3 in

+24.5 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Newark, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

24.9

+62% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$17.68

+16% in Newark, NJ

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 Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / NJ)

4.2%

6.625%

+2.4 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in NJ

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 40% below Newark, NJ's $1,230, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).