Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

vs
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,310 in Aurora, CO versus $1,300 in Baltimore, MD. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $59,623 in Baltimore, MD — about 30% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO
Baltimore, MD

Rent

Studio
—
$1,050
1 Bedroom
$1,138
$1,073
+6% in Aurora, CO
2 Bedroom
$2,284
$1,353
+41% in Aurora, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,320
$1,555
+33% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$689,000
$219,300
+68% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$85,364
$59,623
+30% in Aurora, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$59,070
+5% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
36.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Baltimore, MD
Homeownership
46.0%
47.5%
+1.5 pp in Baltimore, MD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.4%
35.4%
+6.0 pp in Aurora, CO
Avg Commute
18.7 min
29.4 min
+10.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
952.9
1,616.7
+70% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
3,368.1
4,202.6
+25% in Baltimore, MD

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
61.4°F
+11.2°F in Baltimore, MD
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
42.4 in
+26.9 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
$2.00
+27% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
21.8
+27% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$22.57
+50% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Aurora, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Aurora, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Baltimore, MD
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Aurora, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Aurora, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MD)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
6.50%
+2.1 pp in MD

Aurora vs Baltimore — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Baltimore?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Baltimore?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $43,000 in Baltimore.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Baltimore?
Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Baltimore under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).