Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Aurora?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $46,000 in Aurora.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Aurora?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,300 in Aurora, CO. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $85,364 in Aurora, CO — about 13% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Aurora, CO

Rent

Studio

$1,001

—

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,138

+8% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$2,284

+59% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$2,320

+19% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$689,000

+83% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$85,364

+13% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$62,320

+4% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

35.3 yr

+0.4 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

63.7%

46.0%

+17.7 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

41.4%

+3.7 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

19.0 min

18.7 min

+0.3 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

952.9

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

3,368.1

+20% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

50.2°F

+12.8°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

15.6 in

+2.3 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$4.25/gal

+16% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

16.2

+43% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$11.92

+17% in Anchorage, AK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / CO)

None

2.9%

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.40%

+4.4 pp in CO

Anchorage vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Aurora?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $46,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Aurora?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).