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, OR'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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

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

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 1% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,294

+45% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,440

+22% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,741

+12% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$2,053

+14% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$557,600

+114% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$88,792

+1% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$60,690

+11% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

38.6 yr

+3.4 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

66.8%

52.8%

+14.0 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

53.5%

+16.3 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

28.0 min

24.6 min

+3.4 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

732.3

+172% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

1,247.4

5,609.4

+350% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+4.6°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

42.9 in

+5.9 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

16.3

+32% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$20.59

+34% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / OR)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

9.90%

+5.0 pp in OR

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, OR'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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).