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 $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,112 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $3,464 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $4,815 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 113% 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 236%, Aurora, IL by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$15.24 $15.24

98.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$61.8 $61.8

130.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$11.05 $11.05

14.48%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.25 $5.25

10.67%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.63 $2.63

23.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.26 $2.26

14.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.09 $5.09

60.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$6.82 $6.82

73.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.81 $0.81

88.89%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.39 $3.39

55.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$5.05 $5.05

65.15%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.12 $4.12

75.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$7.28 $7.28

137.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$12.54 $12.54

29.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$14.17 $14.17

39.87%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$4.53 $4.53

67.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.57 $1.57

54.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.70 $3.70

57.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.16 $3.16

102.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$1.89 $1.89

104.76%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.68 $2.68

51.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.87 $1.87

66.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.57 $1.57

56.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$8.71 $8.71

121.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$13.80 $13.80

44.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.23 $2.23

34.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.37 $2.37

57.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.21 $2.21

28.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$102 $102

32.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.63 $4.63

10.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.74 $1.74

21.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.00 $1.00

-3.00%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$24.1K $24.1K

44.17%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.84%

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

$181 $181

$176 $176

2.82%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$51.1 $51.1

17.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$65.5 $65.5

-4.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$35.43 $35.43

303.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$11.15 $11.15

79.19%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,331 $1,331

141.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

131.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$49.39 $49.39

36.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$47.60 $47.60

0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$68.7 $68.7

62.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$79.5 $79.5

112.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,384 $1,384

195.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$888 $888

203.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,140 $2,140

294.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,222 $2,222

130.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$9,745 $9,745

86.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$3,214 $3,214

95.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$3,897 $3,897

42.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.52

-1.23%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aurora, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,384 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 42% 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 $62.0 in Aurora, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $349 – 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 113% 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 $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,168 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 $62.0 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 $4,503 in New York, NY and $2,112 in Aurora, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,112, than in New York, NY at $4,503. In Aurora, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aurora, IL costs $2,112 versus $4,503 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.