Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

vs
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $78,438 in Charlotte, NC — about 13% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL
Charlotte, NC

Rent

Studio
$893
$1,424
+59% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,374
+16% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,491
+4% in Aurora, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,797
$1,663
+7% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$260,400
$351,500
+35% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,109
$78,438
+13% in Aurora, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,990
+9% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
34.4 yr
+0.8 yr in Aurora, IL
Homeownership
66.8%
51.5%
+15.3 pp in Aurora, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.2%
47.4%
+10.2 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
28.0 min
25.0 min
+3.0 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.4
733.1
+172% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
1,247.4
3,718.9
+198% in Charlotte, NC

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
59.9°F
+10.0°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
41.6 in
+4.7 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Aurora, IL

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.20

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CATS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
15.1
+37% in Aurora, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$27.56
+79% in Charlotte, NC

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 Charlotte, NC
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NC)
6.25%
4.75%
+1.5 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in IL

Aurora vs Charlotte — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Charlotte?
Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Charlotte?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $55,000 in Charlotte.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Charlotte?
Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Charlotte under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).