Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Raleigh?

Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Raleigh?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 9% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,301

+46% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,323

+12% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,462

+6% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,715

+5% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$377,800

+45% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$82,424

+9% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$51,990

+5% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

34.7 yr

+0.5 yr in Aurora, IL

Homeownership

66.8%

51.2%

+15.6 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

52.9%

+15.7 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

28.0 min

23.4 min

+4.6 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

491.5

+82% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

1,247.4

2,838.4

+128% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+10.7°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

46.0 in

+9.1 in in Raleigh, NC

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)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

15.1

+37% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$27.56

+79% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NC)

6.25%

4.75%

+1.5 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

3.99%

+1.0 pp in IL

Aurora vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Raleigh?: Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Raleigh?: 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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Raleigh?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).