Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Rutland?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 36% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

—

$893

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$856

+25% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,097

+52% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,207

+48% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$176,400

+74% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$55,000

+36% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

48.5 yr

+13.2 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

46.0%

52.7%

+6.7 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

32.2%

+9.2 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

14.7 min

+4.0 min in Aurora, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

487.8

+49% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

3,973.3

+18% in Rutland, VT

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

44.6°F

+5.6°F in Aurora, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

40.5 in

+24.9 in in Rutland, VT

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

24.4

+43% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$26.07

+73% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

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 / VT)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

8.75%

+4.3 pp in VT

Aurora vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Rutland?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).