Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,290/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 $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 30% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$893
$1,052
+18% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,084
+8% in Aurora, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,327
+14% in Aurora, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,797
$1,545
+14% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$260,400
$219,700
+16% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$90,109
$62,917
+30% in Aurora, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$47,010
+14% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
34.6 yr
+0.6 yr in Aurora, IL
Homeownership
66.8%
52.4%
+14.4 pp in Aurora, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.2%
28.7%
+8.5 pp in Aurora, IL
Avg Commute
28.0 min
24.6 min
+3.4 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.4
605.7
+125% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
1,247.4
4,665.7
+274% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+18.6°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
34.9 in
+2.0 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Aurora, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
16.4
+31% in Aurora, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$30.48
+98% in San Antonio, TX

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 San Antonio, TX
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / TX)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
None
+5.0 pp in IL

Aurora vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in San Antonio?
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 San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or San Antonio?
Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).