Cost of Living in Aurora, CO
Aurora's cost of living index is 115 — making it 13.0% more expensive than the US national average. To maintain your current standard of living here, you would need to earn $115,000 for every $100,000 of national-average income.
The Aurora Tax & Cost Impact
Aurora offers a balanced tax profile. While Colorado does have an income tax, it remains competitive compared to coastal hubs, especially when adjusted for local housing costs.
Decision Matrix
- ✓Housing: Expect a major "Housing Premium" here.
- ✓Savings Rate: To save $2,000/mo here, you need a gross household income of ~$96,600.
COL Index
115
100 = national avg
Monthly Budget
$5,750
vs $5,000 national
Population
0.4M
Metro area
State Tax
Yes
Colorado
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs in Aurora vs national average for a typical household.
| Category | National Avg | Aurora | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,650 | $2,021 | +$371 |
| Groceries | $650 | $728 | +$78 |
| Transportation | $800 | $908 | +$108 |
| Healthcare | $400 | $442 | +$42 |
| Utilities | $300 | $345 | +$45 |
| Other | $1,200 | $1,344 | +$144 |
| Total | $5,000 | $5,750 | +$750 |
Estimated Budget: Single vs. Family of Four
Estimates from LifeCalc's model, not surveyed prices. We treat the $5,000 national baseline as a family-of-four budget, scale each category by Aurora's index (housing moves 1.5x as much as the index, groceries 0.8x, and so on), then apply assumed single-adult shares per category (housing 65%, groceries 30%, transportation 55%, healthcare 30%, utilities 60%, other 45%).
| Category | Single adult / mo | Family of four / mo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,314 | $2,021 |
| Groceries | $218 | $728 |
| Transportation | $499 | $908 |
| Healthcare | $133 | $442 |
| Utilities | $207 | $345 |
| Other | $605 | $1,344 |
| Total (estimate) | $2,976 | $5,788 |
For comparison, the same model gives about $2,548 (single) and $5,000 (family of four) at the national average. Aurora is $788 above the family baseline each month.
Salary Needed and State Tax Context
Our dataset's median of state median household incomes is $77,871. Scaling that by Aurora's index of 115 suggests you would need roughly $89,552 a year here to match that standard of living. This is a cost-of-living adjustment only; it does not adjust for your household or housing choices.
Colorado's top marginal income tax rate is 4.4%; on $89,552 our bracket data gives about $3,940 of state income tax for a single filer. Colorado's statewide cost index is 105 and its median household income is $97,113. See all Colorado tax brackets.
Closest cities by index
Salary Equivalent
To maintain the same standard of living in Aurora, a national-average salary translates to:
$50,000 nationally
$57,500
$75,000 nationally
$86,250
$100,000 nationally
$115,000
$150,000 nationally
$172,500
What Your Salary Gets You in Aurora
Here's how different salary levels translate to monthly purchasing power in Aurora, CO, where the cost of living is 15% above the national average.
Cities With Similar Cost of Living
FAQ: Cost of Living in Aurora
Is Aurora expensive to live in?
Aurora's cost of living index is 115, which is significantly above the national average of 100. Housing is typically the biggest factor, with estimated monthly rent around $1,898.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Aurora?
To maintain a middle-class lifestyle in Aurora, you'd need approximately $86,250 per year, which is equivalent to a $75,000 salary at the national average cost of living.
How does Aurora compare to other cities?
Aurora is comparable in cost to Atlanta, Hialeah, Stockton. More affordable alternatives include Dallas, Las Vegas, Bakersfield.