Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Wilmington?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Wilmington?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 13% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$529

$1,103

+109% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$576

$1,024

+78% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$824

$1,213

+47% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,394

+51% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$224,500

+9% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$55,269

+13% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$54,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

37.0 yr

+1.2 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

58.4%

46.0%

+12.4 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

33.1%

+0.5 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

23.0 min

+11.9 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

1,138.2

+314% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,182.4

+124% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+11.9°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

43.1 in

+21.4 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Wilmington, DE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

19.3

+26% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$29.73

+95% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Wilmington, DE

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Aberdeen, SD

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / DE)

4.2%

None

+4.2 pp in SD

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.60%

+6.6 pp in DE

Aberdeen vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Wilmington?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Wilmington?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).