Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Reno?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Reno?

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

Aurora vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 8% 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

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

—

$964

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,206

+6% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,518

+34% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,885

+19% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$498,600

+28% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$78,448

+8% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,660

+20% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

37.3 yr

+2.0 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

46.0%

49.4%

+3.4 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

35.7%

+5.7 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

20.6 min

+1.9 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

528.9

+44% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

2,489.3

+26% 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

53.8°F

+3.6°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

7.4 in

+8.2 in in Aurora, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$5.09/gal

+20% in Reno, NV

Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.6

+16% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$12.09

+1% in Reno, NV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

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 Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Reno?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Reno?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Reno 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).