Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Manchester?

Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Manchester?

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

Aurora vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 14% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$893

$880

+1% in Aurora, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,150

+3% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,593

+3% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,661

+8% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$336,300

+29% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$77,415

+14% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$56,530

+3% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

37.9 yr

+2.7 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

66.8%

49.3%

+17.5 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

33.5%

+3.7 pp in Aurora, IL

Avg Commute

28.0 min

23.8 min

+4.2 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

339.5

+26% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,247.4

1,691.4

+36% in Manchester, NH

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

49.2°F

+0.7°F in Aurora, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

44.6 in

+7.7 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Aurora, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

27.3

+15% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$24.53

+59% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NH)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

None

+5.0 pp in IL

Aurora vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Manchester?: Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Manchester?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire'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).