Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Huntsville?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $36,000 in Huntsville.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Huntsville?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Huntsville Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,310 in Aurora, CO versus $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 17% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio

—

$815

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$900

+21% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,080

+53% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,251

+46% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$263,100

+62% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$70,778

+17% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$51,740

+17% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

36.4 yr

+1.1 yr in Huntsville, AL

Homeownership

46.0%

58.1%

+12.1 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

46.2%

+4.8 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

18.7 min

19.3 min

+0.6 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

483.2

+49% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

2,395.7

+29% 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

62.1°F

+11.9°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

54.3 in

+38.8 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$3.62/gal

+12% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

16.4

+4% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$24.06

+60% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Huntsville, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / AL)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

5.00%

+0.6 pp in AL

Aurora vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Huntsville?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Huntsville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Huntsville?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).