Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Little Rock?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $36,000 in Little Rock.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Little Rock?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 33% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

$893

$981

+10% in Little Rock, AR

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$904

+24% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,064

+31% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,292

+28% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$221,200

+15% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$60,583

+33% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$45,790

+16% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

36.4 yr

+1.2 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

66.8%

54.2%

+12.6 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

44.0%

+6.8 pp in Little Rock, AR

Avg Commute

28.0 min

18.3 min

+9.7 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

1,673

+521% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

1,247.4

5,251.5

+321% in Little Rock, AR

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

62.7°F

+12.8°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

49.8 in

+12.8 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Aurora, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

14.4

+40% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$25.93

+68% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR

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 / AR)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

3.90%

+1.1 pp in IL

Aurora vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Little Rock?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Little Rock?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Little Rock?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).