Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 13% higher in St. Paul, MN. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$529
$995
+88% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$576
$1,126
+95% in St. Paul, MN
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,384
+68% in St. Paul, MN
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,662
+80% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$280,300
+36% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$73,055
+15% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
—
$59,320

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
33.5 yr
+2.3 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
53.2%
+5.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
43.5%
+9.9 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
11.1 min
22.3 min
+11.2 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
619
+125% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,421.2
2,897.2
+104% in St. Paul, MN

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
47.1°F
+4.1°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
28.5 in
+6.8 in in St. Paul, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.96/gal
+3% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
17.5
+14% in St. Paul, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$14.79
+3% in Aberdeen, SD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / MN)
4.2%
6.875%
+2.7 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
9.85%
+9.8 pp in MN

Aberdeen vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or St. Paul?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or St. Paul?
Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).