Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Charleston?

Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Charleston?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Aurora, IL versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $90,038 in Charleston, SC. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,579

+77% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,430

+21% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,684

+9% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$2,076

+16% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$469,100

+80% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$90,038

+0% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$49,150

+10% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

36.1 yr

+0.9 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

66.8%

55.6%

+11.2 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

57.7%

+20.5 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

28.0 min

23.8 min

+4.2 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

358.8

+33% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

1,247.4

2,035.1

+63% in Charleston, SC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.9°F

66.7°F

+16.8°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

44.4 in

+7.5 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Aurora, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

16.2

+32% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$27.35

+78% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Aurora, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Charleston, SC

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Aurora, IL

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / SC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

6.00%

+1.0 pp in SC

Aurora vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Charleston?: Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Charleston?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).