Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Aurora?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Aurora?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Aurora under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Aurora Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,420 in Aurora, IL. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $90,109 in Aurora, IL — about 5% higher in Aurora, IL. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Aurora, IL

Rent

Studio

—

$893

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,183

+4% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,550

+32% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,797

+23% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$260,400

+62% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$90,109

+6% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$54,720

+12% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

35.2 yr

+0.1 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

66.8%

+20.8 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

37.2%

+4.2 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

28.0 min

+9.3 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

269.4

+72% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

1,247.4

+63% 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

50.2°F

49.9°F

+0.3°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

36.9 in

+21.3 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.94/gal

+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

23.9

+48% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$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 Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / IL)

2.9%

6.25%

+3.4 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

4.95%

+0.5 pp in IL

Aurora vs Aurora — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Aurora?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Aurora?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $47,000 in Aurora.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Aurora?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).