CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Boulder, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableCO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent

Boulder is slightly cheaper than Aurora — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $79,500 in Boulder. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+6.9%
Aurora
146.9
Boulder
157
🛒 Groceries4.9%
Aurora
101
Boulder
96.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Aurora
104.4
Boulder
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Aurora
94.5
Boulder
94.8
Utilities5.9%
Aurora
87.9
Boulder
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Boulder to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Boulder, CO
$79,500
$500 less needed in Boulder

Formula: salary × (105.2 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9943. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Boulder has 6.9% higher housing costs compared to Aurora.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.