City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Aurora | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,651/mo | $1,314/mo | 25.6% higher in A |
| Median home value | $409,700 | $304,500 | 34.5% higher in A |
| Median household income | $78,685 | $71,673 | 9.8% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 106.2 | 97.2 | 9.2% higher in A |
| Utilities index | 128.5 | 92.4 | 39.1% higher in A |
| Transportation index | 108.9 | 98.6 | 10.4% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 109.8 | 97.4 | 12.7% higher in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Aurora, you'd need $83,664 in Chicago to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Chicago, IL is about 16.3% cheaper overall than Aurora, CO, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 20% lower in Chicago than in Aurora. If you earn $80,000 in Aurora, you'd need about $66,932 in Chicago to keep the same standard of living.