Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Washington?

Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Washington?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 15% higher in Washington, DC. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,763

+97% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,885

+59% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,949

+26% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$2,249

+25% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$724,600

+178% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$106,287

+18% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$71,060

+30% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

34.9 yr

+0.3 yr in Aurora, IL

Homeownership

66.8%

41.1%

+25.7 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

63.6%

+26.4 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

28.0 min

30.3 min

+2.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

936.3

+248% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

1,247.4

3,627.9

+191% in Washington, DC

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

58.2°F

+8.3°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

39.7 in

+2.8 in in Washington, DC

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)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

25.4

+6% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$22.01

+43% in Washington, DC

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 Washington, DC

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 / DC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

10.75%

+5.8 pp in DC

Aurora vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Washington?: Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Washington?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).