Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Wilmington?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 35% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

—

$1,103

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,024

+10% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,213

+47% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,394

+40% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$224,500

+67% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$55,269

+35% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$54,310

+13% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

37.0 yr

+1.7 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

46.0%

about equal

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

33.1%

+8.3 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

23.0 min

+4.3 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

1,138.2

+19% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

3,368.1

3,182.4

+6% 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

54.9°F

+4.7°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

43.1 in

+27.5 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.86/gal

+9% 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)

16.2

19.4

+20% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$22.51

+89% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Wilmington, DE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / DE)

2.9%

None

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

6.60%

+2.2 pp in DE

Aurora vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Wilmington?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).