Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Aurora?

Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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 $47,000 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 Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,420 in Aurora, IL. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $90,109 in Aurora, IL — about 8% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Aurora, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$893

+11% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,183

+12% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,550

+8% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,797

+8% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$260,400

+31% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$90,109

+8% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$54,720

+9% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

35.2 yr

+0.3 yr in Aurora, IL

Homeownership

63.7%

66.8%

+3.1 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

37.2%

+0.5 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

28.0 min

+9.0 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

269.4

+73% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

1,247.4

+55% in Anchorage, AK

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

49.9°F

+12.5°F in Aurora, IL

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

36.9 in

+19.0 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

23.9

+16% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$15.39

+7% in Aurora, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / IL)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Anchorage vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Aurora?: Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
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 $47,000 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 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).