Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Seattle?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Seattle?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 64% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 48% higher in Seattle, WA. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,638

+210% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,858

+223% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$824

$2,359

+186% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$924

$2,918

+216% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$912,100

+344% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$121,984

+91% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$72,610

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

35.5 yr

+0.3 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

44.2%

+14.2 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

67.5%

+33.9 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

11.1 min

26.6 min

+15.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

788.6

+187% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

1,421.2

5,108.8

+259% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+10.5°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

37.7 in

+16.0 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.41/gal

+41% in Seattle, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.9

+3% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$21.34

+40% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / WA)

4.2%

6.5%

+2.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Aberdeen vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Seattle?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Seattle?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).