Is Aurora expensive to live in?

Aurora is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,138 per month ranks #33 of 50 and is 7% lower than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Aurora?

Average rent in Aurora, CO runs a one-bedroom around $1,138, a two-bedroom around $2,284, a three-bedroom around $2,320 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Aurora?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,138 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year. The median household income here is $85,364.

How much does it cost to live in Aurora per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Aurora is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Brown and white houses near snow covered mountain during daytime — Aurora, CO

Cost of Living in Aurora, CO

Population 366,623 · Colorado

~$1,300/mo est.1BR $1,138Home $689,000

Photo: Matt Noble / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Aurora, CO is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,138 a month — 7% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track.

Median household income here is $85,364, 12% higher than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,300 before food and transport. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,138

Studio

—

1 Bedroom

$1,138

2 Bedroom

$2,284

3 Bedroom

$2,320

Buying a Home$689,000

Median Home Value

$689,000

Income$85,364

Median Household Income

$85,364

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.7¢/kWh

Electricity

16.7¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$11.64/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.54/gal

Regular Gasoline (Colorado)

$4.54/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$2.75

Base Fare (RTD)

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (CO)2.9% sales

State Sales Tax

2.90%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.40%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime952.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

952.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,366.6

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Aurora Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 35.3 yrs

Median Age

35.3 yrs

Homeownership

46.0%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

Avg Commute

18.7 min

Climate50.2°F

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

Aurora cost of living — FAQ

Is Aurora expensive to live in?: Aurora is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,138 per month ranks #33 of 50 and is 7% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Aurora?: Average rent in Aurora, CO runs a one-bedroom around $1,138, a two-bedroom around $2,284, a three-bedroom around $2,320 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Aurora?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,138 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year. The median household income here is $85,364.
How much does it cost to live in Aurora per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Aurora is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Aurora with nearby cities

Aurora vs Denver Aurora vs Colorado Springs Aurora vs Albuquerque Aurora vs Omaha Aurora vs Oklahoma City Aurora vs Kansas City

Nearby cities

Denver, CO 8 mi Colorado Springs, CO 62 mi Albuquerque, NM 336 mi Omaha, NE 479 mi Oklahoma City, OK 497 mi Kansas City, MO 549 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.