Arvada, CO vs Aurora, CO

Aurora is moderately more affordable than Arvada, with a 11.1% lower cost of living index. Arvada scores 141 compared to 127 for Aurora, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arvada can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arvada is $1,802/month compared to $1,759/month in Aurora — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Aurora is more affordable at $444,500 median vs $600,800.

Median household income in Arvada is $113,396 compared to $84,320 in Aurora (+34.5%). While Arvada is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arvada spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 25% in Aurora.