Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 39% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$893
$953
+7% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,019
+14% in Aurora, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,287
+17% in Aurora, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,797
$1,392
+23% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$260,400
$296,400
+14% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,109
$55,339
+39% in Aurora, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$47,290
+14% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
38.4 yr
+3.2 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
66.8%
50.5%
+16.3 pp in Aurora, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.2%
42.0%
+4.8 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
28.0 min
22.7 min
+5.3 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.4
1,361.1
+405% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,247.4
5,089.6
+308% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+20.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
62.3 in
+25.4 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Aurora, IL

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
14.2
+41% in Aurora, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$16.62
+8% in New Orleans, LA

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 New Orleans, LA
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / LA)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in IL

Aurora vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or New Orleans?
Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).