Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 18% higher in Overland Park, KS. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
—
$1,270
1 Bedroom
$1,138
$1,224
+8% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$2,284
$1,589
+30% in Aurora, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,320
$1,828
+21% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$689,000
$384,400
+44% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$85,364
$103,838
+22% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$50,820
+18% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
38.6 yr
+3.3 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
46.0%
61.5%
+15.5 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.4%
62.9%
+21.5 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
18.7 min
19.9 min
+1.2 min in Overland Park, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
952.9
188.4
+80% in Aurora, CO
Property Crime
3,368.1
1,790.5
+47% 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
55.2°F
+5.0°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
40.0 in
+24.5 in in Overland Park, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.85/gal
+7% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
15.7
+8% in Aurora, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$25.12
+67% in Overland Park, KS

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
$1.66
+19% in Aurora, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Aurora, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / KS)
2.9%
6.5%
+3.6 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
5.58%
+1.2 pp in KS

Aurora vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Overland Park?
Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Overland Park?
Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).