Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Louisville?

Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $35,000 in Louisville.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Louisville?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Louisville Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 28% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio

$893

$786

+12% in Aurora, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$877

+26% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,096

+29% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,299

+28% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$221,500

+15% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$64,731

+28% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$48,370

+12% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

37.7 yr

+2.5 yr in Louisville, KY

Homeownership

66.8%

60.6%

+6.2 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

33.4%

+3.8 pp in Aurora, IL

Avg Commute

28.0 min

22.7 min

+5.3 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

763.4

+183% in Louisville, KY

Property Crime

1,247.4

3,536.6

+184% in Louisville, KY

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

58.2°F

+8.3°F in Louisville, KY

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

44.9 in

+8.0 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

15.0

+37% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$29.48

+92% in Louisville, KY

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 Louisville, KY

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 / KY)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

3.50%

+1.5 pp in IL

Aurora vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Louisville?: Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Louisville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Louisville?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).