Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Aurora, IL's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Missoula?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,390/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 28% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$893

$755

+15% in Aurora, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$953

+19% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,176

+24% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,676

+7% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$427,400

+64% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$65,329

+28% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$47,830

+13% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

34.3 yr

+0.9 yr in Aurora, IL

Homeownership

66.8%

47.8%

+19.0 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

51.7%

+14.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

28.0 min

16.6 min

+11.4 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

601.9

+123% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

1,247.4

3,685.2

+195% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+4.0°F in Aurora, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

14.1 in

+22.8 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Missoula, MT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.9

15.1

+24% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.71

$10.12

+49% in Aurora, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / MT)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

5.65%

+0.7 pp in MT

Aurora vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Aurora, IL's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Missoula?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).