Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Springfield?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 46% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

—

$760

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$772

+32% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$926

+59% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,158

+50% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$165,200

+76% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$45,984

+46% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$45,780

+27% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

33.6 yr

+1.7 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

42.9%

+3.1 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

30.3%

+11.1 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

18.0 min

+0.7 min in Aurora, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

1,189.8

+25% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

3,368.1

4,231.6

+26% in Springfield, MO

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

56.3°F

+6.1°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

45.6 in

+30.0 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.94/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)

16.2

13.7

+15% in Aurora, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$24.13

+102% in Springfield, MO

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 Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Springfield, MO

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 / MO)

2.9%

4.225%

+1.3 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

4.70%

+0.3 pp in MO

Aurora vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Springfield?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).