| Index | Aberdeen | South Dakota | National |
| Cost of living | 96 | 92 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 87 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 98 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Aberdeen is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Aberdeen is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
The cost of living in Aberdeen aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, household expenses, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Aberdeen residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.
Is Aberdeen affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Aberdeen, for instance, where the median home price falls 5% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 30.5% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Aberdeen flaunting a median household income of $82,945, 2% higher than the national norm.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Aberdeen, the utilities index registers 4.1% higher than the national average.
The Aberdeen cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $114,924 | $9,577 | $2,681 | $3,448 |
| Renters | $54,194 | $4,516 | $1,264 | $1,626 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| South Dakota | 4.5% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| South Dakota | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Wetonka, SD | 5 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Bath Corner, SD | 17 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Stratford, SD | 43 | 78 | 21.8% |
| Westport, SD | 136 | 81 | 18.7% |
| Bath, SD | 224 | 84 | 16.4% |
| Aberdeen, SD | 29,054 | 96 | 4.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Jeffersontown, KY | 29,051 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Eagle, ID | 29,040 | 137 | 37.4% |
| Saugus, MA | 29,084 | 139 | 38.9% |
| Temescal Valley, CA | 29,022 | 158 | 58.0% |
| Englewood, NJ | 29,019 | 137 | 37.4% |
| Aberdeen, SD | 29,054 | 96 | 4.0% |
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