Aurora, IL vs Palatine, IL

Aurora, IL and Palatine, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.7% difference in their overall index. Aurora scores 104 while Palatine scores 109 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Aurora is $1,535/month compared to $1,467/month in Palatine — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Palatine has cheaper rent, Aurora actually has lower median home values ($260,400 vs $347,900).

Median household income in Aurora is $90,109 compared to $95,950 in Palatine (-6.1%). While Palatine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Aurora spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Palatine.