Median rent is 10% lower in Chicago ($1,380/mo vs $1,535/mo). Buying is cheaper in Aurora, where the median home runs $260,400 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Aurora ($90,109 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Aurora, IL
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Aurora, IL?
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 city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Aurora
Illinois
Chicago
Illinois
👥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: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Chicago at $1,380/mo compared to $1,535/mo in Aurora (10% gap). Median home values are within 17% of each other: $260,400 in Aurora and $315,200 in Chicago.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 4.95% in Illinois, so Chicago is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 6.25% in Illinois; Chicago has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Aurora
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Aurora has cleaner air on average: 16.0 AQI (Good) compared to 21.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Aurora if you prioritize higher median household income ($90,109/yr).
Is Aurora cheaper than Chicago?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Aurora vs Chicago?
Median rent is $1,535/mo in Aurora, IL and $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 10%.
Which has higher salaries — Aurora or Chicago?
Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $75,134 in Chicago, IL. Aurora, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Aurora, IL has better air quality on average: 16.0 AQI versus 21.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Aurora or Chicago?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and Illinois's is 4.95%. Chicago, IL has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Chicago to match my Aurora income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology