Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Wilmington?

Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Aurora vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 39% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Aurora, IL

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,103

+24% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,024

+13% in Aurora, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,213

+22% in Aurora, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,797

$1,394

+22% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$260,400

$224,500

+14% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$90,109

$55,269

+39% in Aurora, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$54,310

+1% in Aurora, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

37.0 yr

+1.8 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

66.8%

46.0%

+20.8 pp in Aurora, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.2%

33.1%

+4.1 pp in Aurora, IL

Avg Commute

28.0 min

23.0 min

+5.0 min in Aurora, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.4

1,138.2

+322% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,247.4

3,182.4

+155% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+5.0°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

43.1 in

+6.2 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Aurora, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

19.4

+19% in Aurora, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$22.51

+46% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

6.60%

+1.6 pp in DE

Aurora vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Aurora, IL's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Wilmington?: Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).