Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 7% higher in Denver, 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.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Colorado vs Denver.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs RTD (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Aurora vs Denver — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Denver?
- Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Denver?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $63,000 in Denver.
- Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Denver?
- 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).