Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Evansville?

Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $31,000 in Evansville.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Evansville?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Evansville Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Evansville

Indiana

$950/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 $950 in Evansville, IN. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $52,251 in Evansville, IN — about 39% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Evansville, IN

Rent

Studio

—

$741

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$768

+33% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,022

+55% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,167

+50% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$129,100

+81% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$52,251

+39% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$46,540

+25% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

38.1 yr

+2.8 yr in Evansville, IN

Homeownership

46.0%

53.9%

+7.9 pp in Evansville, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

22.3%

+19.1 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

1,210.5

+27% in Evansville, IN

Property Crime

3,368.1

3,716.2

+10% in Evansville, IN

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

56.4°F

+6.2°F in Evansville, IN

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

45.3 in

+29.7 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.94/gal

+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

18.1

+12% in Evansville, IN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$13.70

+15% in Evansville, IN

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

$1.66

+19% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Evansville, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Evansville, IN

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / IN)

2.9%

+4.1 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

2.95%

+1.5 pp in CO

Aurora vs Evansville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Evansville?: Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Evansville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $31,000 in Evansville.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Evansville?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).