Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Aurora, IL versus $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 27% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Aurora vs Fargo — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Fargo?
- Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Fargo?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $32,000 in Fargo.
- Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Fargo?
- Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).