Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Provo?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Provo?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 1% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,009

+91% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$576

$978

+70% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,128

+37% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,381

+49% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$437,100

+113% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$62,800

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$48,010

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

23.7 yr

+12.1 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

39.9%

+18.5 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

45.0%

+11.4 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

11.1 min

18.5 min

+7.4 min in Provo, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

205.7

+25% in Aberdeen, SD

Property Crime

1,421.2

1,280.6

+10% in Aberdeen, SD

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

53.4°F

+10.4°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

19.8 in

+2.0 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Provo, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

13.4

+13% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$11.84

+22% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / UT)

4.2%

6.1%

+1.9 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in UT

Aberdeen vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Provo?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Provo?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).