Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Philadelphia?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 33% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,126

+26% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,189

+1% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,394

+10% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,406

+22% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$232,400

+11% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$60,698

+33% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$54,310

+1% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

35.1 yr

+0.1 yr in Aurora, IL

Homeownership

66.8%

52.3%

+14.5 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

34.6%

+2.6 pp in Aurora, IL

Avg Commute

28.0 min

32.0 min

+4.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

917.1

+240% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

1,247.4

4,615.3

+270% in Philadelphia, PA

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

57.1°F

+7.2°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

48.5 in

+11.6 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Aurora, IL

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

21.6

+10% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$19.17

+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / PA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

3.07%

+1.9 pp in IL

Aurora vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Philadelphia?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).