Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Charleston?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Charleston?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 5% higher in Charleston, SC. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

—

$1,579

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,430

+26% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,684

+26% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$2,076

+11% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$469,100

+32% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$90,038

+5% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,150

+21% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

36.1 yr

+0.8 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

46.0%

55.6%

+9.6 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

57.7%

+16.3 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

18.7 min

23.8 min

+5.1 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

358.8

+62% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

2,035.1

+40% 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

66.7°F

+16.5°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

44.4 in

+28.8 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.86/gal

+9% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

+0% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$27.35

+129% in Charleston, SC

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 Charleston, SC

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 / SC)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

6.00%

+1.6 pp in SC

Aurora vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Charleston?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Charleston?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).