Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Juneau?

Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Juneau?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,390/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,390 in Aurora, IL versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 10% higher in Juneau, AK. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$893

$993

+11% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,257

+6% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,647

+6% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,949

+8% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$432,500

+66% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$100,513

+12% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

39.8 yr

+4.6 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

66.8%

64.4%

+2.4 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

40.5%

+3.3 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

28.0 min

15.8 min

+12.2 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

515.6

+91% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

1,247.4

2,113.1

+69% in Juneau, AK

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

42.1°F

+7.8°F in Aurora, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

62.3 in

+25.4 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Juneau, AK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.9

28.2

+42% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.71

$17.35

+12% in Aurora, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / AK)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

None

+5.0 pp in IL

Aurora vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Juneau?: Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Juneau?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax 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).