Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or New Haven?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or New Haven?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Aurora vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 37% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

—

$1,159

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,275

+12% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,473

+36% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,636

+29% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$249,000

+64% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$53,771

+37% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$60,060

+4% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

31.9 yr

+3.4 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

28.4%

+17.6 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

37.7%

+3.7 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

21.0 min

+2.3 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

536.3

+44% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

3,601.6

+7% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+2.0°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

47.1 in

+31.5 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.13/gal

$3.94/gal

+5% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

24.3

+42% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$23.33

+55% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CT)

2.9%

6.35%

+3.4 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

6.99%

+2.6 pp in CT

Aurora vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or New Haven?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or New Haven?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).