Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 3% higher in Aurora, CO. Both cities are in Colorado, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
—
$998
1 Bedroom
$1,138
$1,305
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$2,284
$1,504
+34% in Aurora, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,320
$1,881
+19% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$689,000
$420,700
+39% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$85,364
$83,198
+3% in Aurora, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$52,710
+15% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
35.6 yr
+0.3 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
46.0%
61.3%
+15.3 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.4%
41.9%
+0.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
18.7 min
22.8 min
+4.1 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
952.4
721.1
+24% in Aurora, CO
Property Crime
3,366.6
3,487.9
+4% in Colorado Springs, 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
49.0°F
+1.2°F in Aurora, CO
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
16.5 in
+1.0 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.54/gal
about equal

Area: Colorado vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
$1.75
+36% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
16.7
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$11.64
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CO)
2.9%
2.9%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
4.40%
about equal

Aurora vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Colorado Springs?
Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Colorado Springs?
Neither — both are in Colorado, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).