Residential comparison · 13 facts
Aurora, IL vs Chicago, IL
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Aurora needs about $95,000 in Chicago to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Chicago, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $75,000 in Aurora.
A few differences
- Aurora is lower on sales tax (8.85% vs 10.25%).
- Aurora is lower on groceries index (98 vs 102).
- Aurora is higher on median household income ($93,633 vs $71,000).
Aurora vs Chicago · facet by facet
| Facet | Aurora, IL | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $274,800 | $360,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,608/mo | $2,200/mo |
| Property tax rate | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| State & local income tax | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| Sales tax | 8.85% | 10.25% |
| Cost of living index | 97 | 106 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 102 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $155/mo |
| Median household income | $93,633 | $71,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| Crime index | 50/100 | 55/100 |
| School rating | 6.3/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 189 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Aurora, IL · Chicago, IL
Questions & answers
- Is Aurora cheaper than Chicago?
- Aurora has the lower day-to-day cost index (97 vs 106 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Chicago equals $85,000 in Aurora?
- A household earning $85,000 in Aurora needs about $95,000 in Chicago to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Chicago lifestyle costs about $75,000 in Aurora.