Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Houston?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Houston, TX's $1,350, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Houston?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Houston, TX. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Houston, TX, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 26% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

—

$1,142

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,156

+2% in Houston, TX

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,375

+40% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,664

+28% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$253,400

+63% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$62,894

+26% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,410

+21% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

34.3 yr

+1.0 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

42.0%

+4.0 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

36.0%

+5.4 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

27.3 min

+8.6 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

1,155.2

+21% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

3,366.6

4,325.3

+28% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+20.1°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

54.6 in

+39.1 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$3.85/gal

+15% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$1.25

+55% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

16.4

+2% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$24.61

+111% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Aurora, CO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / TX)

2.9%

6.25%

+3.4 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

None

+4.4 pp in CO

Aurora vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Houston?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Houston, TX's $1,350, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Houston?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).