Living Cost Compare
Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 15% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Both cities are in South Dakota, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$529
$825
+56% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$576
$870
+51% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$824
$1,000
+21% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$924
$1,237
+34% in Sioux Falls, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$205,500
$271,400
+32% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$63,715
$74,714
+17% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,970

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.8 yr
35.1 yr
+0.7 yr in Aberdeen, SD
Homeownership
58.4%
60.0%
+1.6 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.6%
37.4%
+3.8 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
11.1 min
17.0 min
+5.9 min in Sioux Falls, SD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
275
526.7
+92% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
1,421.2
2,927.1
+106% in Sioux Falls, 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
45.8°F
+2.8°F in Sioux Falls, SD
Annual Precipitation
21.7 in
26.4 in
+4.7 in in Sioux Falls, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
15.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.26
$15.26
about equal

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 / SD)
4.2%
4.2%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Aberdeen vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Sioux Falls?
Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Sioux Falls?
Neither — both are in South Dakota, so they share the same state tax rates: no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).