Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Pittsburgh?

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

Aurora vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 29% 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

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,109

+24% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,079

+9% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,269

+18% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,450

+19% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$193,200

+26% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$64,137

+29% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$49,650

+9% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

33.5 yr

+1.7 yr in Aurora, IL

Homeownership

66.8%

47.2%

+19.6 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

47.8%

+10.6 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

28.0 min

23.1 min

+4.9 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

436

+62% in Pittsburgh, PA

Property Crime

1,247.4

2,315.7

+86% in Pittsburgh, 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

51.8°F

+1.9°F in Pittsburgh, PA

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

39.3 in

+2.4 in in Pittsburgh, PA

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

21.6

+10% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$19.17

+25% in Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Pittsburgh, PA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Pittsburgh?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Pittsburgh 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).