Aurora, CO vs Lakewood, CO

Aurora is moderately more affordable than Lakewood, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Aurora scores 127 compared to 135 for Lakewood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lakewood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Aurora is $1,759/month compared to $1,746/month in Lakewood — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lakewood has cheaper rent, Aurora actually has lower median home values ($444,500 vs $548,200).

Median household income in Aurora is $84,320 compared to $85,789 in Lakewood (-1.7%). Lakewood does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Aurora spend roughly 25% of their income on rent, more than the 24.4% in Lakewood.