Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Fresno?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $42,000 in Fresno.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Fresno?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Fresno Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 22% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Fresno, CA

Rent

Studio

—

$1,072

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,042

+8% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,293

+43% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,688

+27% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$348,500

+49% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$66,804

+22% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$46,910

+25% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

32.4 yr

+2.9 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

49.7%

+3.7 pp in Fresno, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

24.9%

+16.5 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

22.3 min

+3.6 min in Fresno, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

741.9

+22% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,366.6

3,334.2

+1% 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

64.4°F

+14.2°F in Fresno, CA

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

11.5 in

+4.1 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$5.91/gal

+30% in Fresno, CA

Area: Colorado vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$1.25

+55% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

33.4

+99% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$20.72

+78% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CA)

2.9%

7.25%

+4.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

13.30%

+8.9 pp in CA

Aurora vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Fresno?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Fresno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $42,000 in Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Fresno?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).