Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Aurora, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Aurora, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,852 per month in New York, NY vs $2,629 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,370 per month in New York, NY vs $3,680 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,889 per month in New York, NY vs $4,731 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Aurora, IL sit above the global median – New York, NY by 252%, Aurora, IL by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$14.21 $14.21

78.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$59.6 $59.6

137.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$11.86 $11.86

17.79%

Cappuccino

$6.42 $6.42

$5.48 $5.48

17.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.02 $3.02

29.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.34 $2.34

26.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.10 $5.10

53.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$7.34 $7.34

34.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.91 $0.91

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.73 $4.73

$3.63 $3.63

30.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$4.61 $4.61

49.46%

Eggs

$5.63 $5.63

$3.49 $3.49

61.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$8.96 $8.96

94.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$11.37 $11.37

32.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$16.18 $16.18

11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$4.87 $4.87

23.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.64 $1.64

31.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$3.85 $3.85

52.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$3.24 $3.24

91.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.83 $1.83

85.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.67 $2.67

59.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.88 $1.88

42.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.55 $1.55

56.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$10.63 $10.63

75.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$13.88 $13.88

42.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.23 $2.23

45.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.95 $2.95

32.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.24 $2.24

31.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$99.2 $99.2

40.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.92 $3.92

-22.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.01 $2.01

10.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$44.60 $44.60

-7.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.99 $0.99

9.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K $35.3K

$24.8K $24.8K

42.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

-1.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$236 $236

$173 $173

36.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$51.4 $51.4

42.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$54.4 $54.4

39.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$29.54 $29.54

334.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

Cinema Ticket

$23.19 $23.19

$12.20 $12.20

90.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,340 $3,340

$1,479 $1,479

125.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

153.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$56.1 $56.1

29.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$50.9 $50.9

6.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$88.7 $88.7

34.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$79.6 $79.6

57.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,467 $4,467

$1,713 $1,713

160.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$1,454 $1,454

105.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,222 $9,222

$2,178 $2,178

323.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,537 $5,537

$2,235 $2,235

147.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

$9,865 $9,865

91.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

$3,182 $3,182

108.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,327 $5,327

$3,883 $3,883

37.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.26

3.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aurora, IL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,467 in New York, NY versus $1,713 in Aurora, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $60.0 in Aurora, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $358 – making Aurora, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Aurora, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Aurora, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,278 per month in New York, NY and $3,944 in Aurora, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY and $60.0 in Aurora, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,852 in New York, NY and $2,629 in Aurora, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,852 in New York, NY and $2,629 in Aurora, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aurora, IL costs $2,629 versus $4,852 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Aurora, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.