What is the cost of living in Aberdeen, SD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Aberdeen has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Dakota, Aberdeen has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Dakota's index of 91.
The standard of living in Aberdeen ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 19 places we measured in South Dakota. By definition, that implies Aberdeen ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Mount Rushmore State.
For more reading on life in Aberdeen, check out:
Aberdeen Cost Of Living Vs. South Dakota
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Aberdeen. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Aberdeen is 100.
The Groceries index in Aberdeen is 101.
The Health index in Aberdeen is 85.
The Housing index in Aberdeen is 96.
The Transportation index in Aberdeen is 105.
The Utilities index in Aberdeen is 103.
| Living Expense | Aberdeen | South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 77 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 93 | 100 |
Aberdeen Cost Of Living Compared To South Dakota Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Dakota, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Dakota
- Most Affordable Cities In South Dakota
- Average Rent In South Dakota
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Aberdeen, SD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Dakota, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Aberdeen is $240,644.
The Median Rent in Aberdeen is $762.
The Median Income in Aberdeen is $64,405.
The Home Value To Income in Aberdeen is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Aberdeen is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Aberdeen | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $240,644 | $317,148 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $762 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,405 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 4.2x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.15x | 0.21x |
Aberdeen, SD Costs By Category
Detailed Aberdeen Services costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Aberdeen | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $0.98 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.5 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $25.03 | $45.56 |
Detailed Aberdeen Groceries costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Aberdeen | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.61 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.28 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.46 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Aberdeen Health costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Aberdeen | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $179.59 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $83.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Aberdeen Transportation costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Aberdeen | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.53 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.06 | $59.92 |
Detailed Aberdeen Utilities costs vs. South Dakota
| Item | Aberdeen | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $159.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.14 | $192.25 |
