Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Aurora?

Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Aurora?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $47,000 in Aurora.

Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Aurora?

Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Aurora under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Albuquerque vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,420 in Aurora, IL. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $90,109 in Aurora, IL — about 27% higher in Aurora, IL. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM

Aurora, IL

Rent

Studio

$797

$893

+12% in Aurora, IL

1 Bedroom

$889

$1,183

+33% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,140

$1,550

+36% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,459

$1,797

+23% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,700

$260,400

+2% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$65,604

$90,109

+37% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,060

$54,720

+14% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.7 yr

35.2 yr

+3.5 yr in Albuquerque, NM

Homeownership

61.5%

66.8%

+5.3 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

37.2%

+1.5 pp in Albuquerque, NM

Avg Commute

22.2 min

28.0 min

+5.8 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,194.3

269.4

+77% in Albuquerque, NM

Property Crime

4,766.6

1,247.4

+74% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.2°F

49.9°F

+7.3°F in Albuquerque, NM

Annual Precipitation

9.4 in

36.9 in

+27.5 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Aurora, IL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

Free

—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

23.9

+69% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.90

$15.39

+29% in Aurora, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Albuquerque, NM

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Albuquerque, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Albuquerque, NM

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Albuquerque, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / IL)

4.875%

6.25%

+1.4 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.90%

4.95%

+1.0 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Aurora?: Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $47,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Aurora?: Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Aurora under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).