Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Cambridge?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Cambridge?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 33% higher in Cambridge, MA. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

—

$2,236

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$2,496

+119% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$2,980

+30% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$3,325

+43% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$1,040,500

+51% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$126,469

+48% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$66,620

+7% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

30.5 yr

+4.8 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

33.7%

+12.3 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

80.2%

+38.8 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

18.7 min

26.1 min

+7.4 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

436.7

+54% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

2,657.6

+21% 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

51.5°F

+1.3°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

43.8 in

+28.2 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$4.07/gal

+2% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

29.6

+73% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$30.66

+104% in Cambridge, MA

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

$1.92

+6% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MA)

2.9%

6.25%

+3.4 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

9.00%

+4.6 pp in MA

Aurora vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Cambridge?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Cambridge?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).