Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 48% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 36% higher in San Francisco, CA. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$893
$1,560
+75% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$2,425
+105% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,550
$2,982
+92% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,797
$3,269
+82% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$260,400
$1,380,500
+430% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,109
$141,446
+57% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$74,260
+36% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
39.7 yr
+4.5 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
66.8%
38.5%
+28.3 pp in Aurora, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.2%
60.1%
+22.9 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
28.0 min
31.2 min
+3.2 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.4
596.5
+121% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
1,247.4
3,962.2
+218% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+7.4°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
23.6 in
+13.3 in in Aurora, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.43/gal
+38% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
33.3
+39% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$20.72
+35% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Aurora, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Aurora, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / CA)
6.25%
7.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
13.30%
+8.4 pp in CA

Aurora vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or San Francisco?
Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 48% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or San Francisco?
Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).