Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Providence?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Providence?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 5% higher in Providence, RI. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,116

+111% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,030

+79% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,323

+61% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,627

+76% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$322,800

+57% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$66,772

+5% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$53,680

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

32.9 yr

+2.9 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

41.2%

+17.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

34.7%

+1.1 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

11.1 min

25.0 min

+13.9 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

282.4

+3% in Providence, RI

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,665.6

+17% in Providence, RI

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

51.6°F

+8.6°F in Providence, RI

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

47.2 in

+25.5 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Providence, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

29.2

+90% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$25.75

+69% in Providence, RI

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 Providence, RI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Providence, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Providence, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / RI)

4.2%

+2.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Aberdeen vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Providence?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Providence?: 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 Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Providence?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).