Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Little Rock?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Little Rock.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Little Rock?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR 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 $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 29% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

—

$981

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$904

+21% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,064

+53% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,292

+44% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$221,200

+68% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$60,583

+29% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$45,790

+27% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

36.4 yr

+1.1 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

46.0%

54.2%

+8.2 pp in Little Rock, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

44.0%

+2.6 pp in Little Rock, AR

Avg Commute

18.7 min

18.3 min

+0.4 min in Aurora, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

1,673

+76% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

3,368.1

5,251.5

+56% in Little Rock, AR

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

62.7°F

+12.5°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

49.8 in

+34.2 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% 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)

16.2

14.4

+11% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$25.93

+118% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR

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 / AR)

2.9%

6.5%

+3.6 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

3.90%

+0.5 pp in CO

Aurora vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Little Rock?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Little Rock?: 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 Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Little Rock?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).