Median rent is 21% lower in Aurora ($1,835/mo vs $2,313/mo). Buying is cheaper in Aurora, where the median home runs $469,100 versus $906,700. Households earn more in San Diego ($108,077 vs $88,368 a year).
City A
Aurora, CO
City B
San Diego, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Diego, CA to maintain your standard of living from Aurora, CO?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Aurora
Colorado
San Diego
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Aurora — median rent of $1,835/mo versus $2,313/mo in San Diego, a 21% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in San Diego: the median home is $906,700 versus $469,100 in Aurora — 48% more expensive.
Metric
Aurora
San Diego
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Aurora
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Diego
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Aurora has cleaner air on average: 27.0 AQI (Good) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Diego if you prioritize higher median household income ($108,077/yr).
Pick Aurora if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,835/mo median).
Pick Aurora if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 27.0).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,835/mo in Aurora, CO and $2,313/mo in San Diego, CA. Aurora, CO has the lower rent by about 21%.
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora, CO and $108,077 in San Diego, CA. San Diego, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Aurora, CO has better air quality on average: 27.0 AQI versus 59.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
