Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Louisville?

Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $35,000 in Louisville.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Louisville?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Louisville Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 24% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio

—

$786

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$877

+23% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,096

+52% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,299

+44% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$221,500

+68% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$64,731

+24% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$48,370

+22% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

37.7 yr

+2.4 yr in Louisville, KY

Homeownership

46.0%

60.6%

+14.6 pp in Louisville, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

33.4%

+8.0 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

22.7 min

+4.0 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

761.5

+20% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,366.6

3,535.4

+5% in Louisville, KY

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

58.2°F

+8.0°F in Louisville, KY

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

44.9 in

+29.3 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$4.35/gal

+4% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$1.75

+36% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

14.9

+11% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$19.12

+64% in Louisville, KY

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 / KY)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

3.50%

+0.9 pp in CO

Aurora vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Louisville?: Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Louisville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Louisville?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).