Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Salem?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 20% 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

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,075

+20% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$989

+16% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,337

+14% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,778

+1% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$382,400

+47% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$71,900

+20% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$55,310

+1% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

35.7 yr

+0.5 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

66.8%

55.7%

+11.1 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

31.4%

+5.8 pp in Aurora, IL

Avg Commute

28.0 min

22.4 min

+5.6 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

540.6

+101% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

1,247.4

2,878.6

+131% in Salem, 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

53.0°F

+3.1°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

39.7 in

+2.8 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

16.3

+32% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$20.59

+34% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Aurora, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Aurora, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, 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 Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Salem?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Salem 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).