Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Philadelphia?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Philadelphia?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 5% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,126

+113% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,189

+106% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,394

+69% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,406

+52% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$232,400

+13% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$60,698

+5% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$54,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.1 yr

+0.7 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

52.3%

+6.1 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

34.6%

+1.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

11.1 min

32.0 min

+20.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

917.1

+233% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

1,421.2

4,615.3

+225% in Philadelphia, PA

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

57.1°F

+14.1°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

48.5 in

+26.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

21.7

+41% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$26.08

+71% in Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / PA)

4.2%

+1.8 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Aberdeen vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Philadelphia?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Philadelphia?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 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).