Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Las Vegas?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Las Vegas?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 17% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

—

$992

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,181

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,401

+39% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,740

+25% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$395,300

+43% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$70,723

+17% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$46,670

+25% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

38.5 yr

+3.2 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

46.0%

55.7%

+9.7 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

27.3%

+14.1 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

25.8 min

+7.1 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

433.1

+55% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,366.6

2,641.7

+22% 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

68.4°F

+18.2°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

5.4 in

+10.2 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$5.57/gal

+23% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$2.00

+27% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

14.2

+15% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$10.04

+14% in Aurora, CO

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 / NV)

2.9%

6.85%

+3.9 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

None

+4.4 pp in CO

Aurora vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Las Vegas?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Las Vegas?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).