CostIndexUSA

Aurora, IL vs Salem, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostIL
Aurora
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Aurora and Salem have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.5%
Aurora
112
Salem
110.3
🛒 Groceries1.9%
Aurora
107.3
Salem
105.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Aurora
105.5
Salem
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Aurora
95.5
Salem
95.3
Utilities+25.2%
Aurora
83.6
Salem
104.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salem, OR
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, IL

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
112
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Aurora has 1.5% lower housing costs compared to Salem.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, IL

Median Household Income
$87,100
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
197,899
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Aurora, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.