Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Tucson?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Tucson?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,070 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 14% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$529

$795

+50% in Tucson, AZ

1 Bedroom

$576

$891

+55% in Tucson, AZ

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,146

+39% in Tucson, AZ

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,520

+65% in Tucson, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$242,200

+18% in Tucson, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$54,546

+14% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,760

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

34.6 yr

+1.2 yr in Aberdeen, SD

Homeownership

58.4%

51.7%

+6.7 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

30.2%

+3.4 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

22.2 min

+11.1 min in Tucson, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

645.8

+135% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,460

+143% in Tucson, AZ

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

70.2°F

+27.2°F in Tucson, AZ

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

11.6 in

+10.1 in in Aberdeen, SD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

Free

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Sun Tran (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

15.2

+1% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$24.74

+62% in Tucson, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / AZ)

4.2%

5.6%

+1.4 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Aberdeen vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Tucson?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tucson, AZ's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Tucson?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).