Aurora, MN vs St. Stephen, MN

The cost of living difference between Aurora, MN and St. Stephen, MN is dramatic. Aurora is 36.4% cheaper than St. Stephen, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Aurora has a cost index of 52 while St. Stephen sits at 82, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Aurora is $471/month compared to $1,025/month in St. Stephen — a 54% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Aurora is more affordable at $88,700 median vs $237,600.

Median household income in Aurora is $42,406 compared to $94,875 in St. Stephen (-55.3%). While St. Stephen 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 13.3% of their income on rent, more than the 13% in St. Stephen.