Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Washington?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Washington?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 20% higher in Washington, DC. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

—

$1,763

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,885

+66% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,949

+15% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$2,249

+3% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$724,600

+5% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$106,287

+25% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$71,060

+14% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

34.9 yr

+0.4 yr in Aurora, CO

Homeownership

46.0%

41.1%

+4.9 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

63.6%

+22.2 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

18.7 min

30.3 min

+11.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

936

+2% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,366.6

3,627.1

+8% in Washington, DC

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

58.2°F

+8.0°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

39.7 in

+24.2 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$4.30/gal

+5% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$2.00

+27% in Aurora, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

25.0

+49% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$18.01

+55% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Aurora, CO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / DC)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in DC

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

10.75%

+6.3 pp in DC

Aurora vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Washington?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Washington?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).