Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Portland?

Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Portland?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 15% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,038

+16% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,331

+13% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,664

+7% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,919

+7% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$452,600

+74% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$76,174

+15% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$56,960

+4% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

37.5 yr

+2.3 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

66.8%

46.7%

+20.1 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

59.2%

+22.0 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

28.0 min

19.9 min

+8.1 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

272.7

+1% in Portland, ME

Property Crime

1,247.4

2,513.3

+101% in Portland, ME

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

46.5°F

+3.4°F in Aurora, IL

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

47.3 in

+10.3 in in Portland, ME

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

28.6

+20% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$21.00

+36% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Portland, ME

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Portland, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / ME)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

7.15%

+2.2 pp in ME

Aurora vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Portland?: Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Portland?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).