Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Aurora?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $46,000 in Aurora.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Aurora?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Aurora under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,300 in Aurora, CO. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $85,364 in Aurora, CO — about 14% higher in Aurora, CO. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Aurora, CO

Rent

Studio

$1,088

—

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,138

+4% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$2,284

+62% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$2,320

+28% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$689,000

+149% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$85,364

+16% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$62,320

+21% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

35.3 yr

+1.7 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

54.8%

46.0%

+8.8 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

41.4%

+8.3 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

26.7 min

18.7 min

+8.0 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

952.4

+93% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

2,433.5

3,366.6

+38% 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

65.4°F

50.2°F

+15.2°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

15.6 in

+24.0 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.54/gal

+15% in Aurora, CO

Area: Texas vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs RTD (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

16.7

+2% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$11.64

+53% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Aurora, CO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / CO)

6.25%

2.9%

+3.4 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.40%

+4.4 pp in CO

Arlington vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Aurora?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $46,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Aurora?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).