As a family of four with two school-age kids, I find Auburn to be relatively affordable overall, but housing is definitely one of the bigger expenses. We rent a 3-bedroom apartment outside the city center for around $1,400/month, which is manageable on our combined incomes. Groceries are pretty reasonable – a weekly shopping trip for our family runs about $150-$200 at places like Costco or Aldi. Utility bills for electricity, water, etc. tend to be $200-$300/month. My biggest gripe is probably the cost of childcare and kids’ activities, which can really add up quickly.

I’m a young professional living in a trendy 1-bedroom apartment downtown, and I’d say the cost of living in Auburn is moderate to high depending on your lifestyle. My rent is around $950/month, which is steep but the convenience is worth it. Eating out frequently at the hipper restaurants can get pricey, with entrees often $20-$30. I try to cook at home when I can – groceries from places like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s run me $400+/month. Entertainment-wise, activities like going to movies, bars, concerts, etc. probably add another $200-$300 to my monthly expenses. But my biggest priorities are an active social life and living close to work, so I’m willing to pay a premium for that.

As a retiree on a fixed income, I’ve found Auburn quite livable but you do need to be mindful of expenses. My biggest cost by far is my mortgage/property taxes on my 3-bedroom ranch house just outside downtown, which runs about $1,600/month. Utilities average $250-$300/month. Groceries from places like Publix are manageable at $300-$400/month for me and my wife. We mainly stick to inexpensive entertainment like going to parks, libraries, and community events. Overall, Auburn is relatively affordable compared to bigger cities if you make some modest lifestyle adjustments.

I’m a single guy in my 30s renting a basic 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center for $600/month, which is quite reasonable. Groceries from places like Aldi and Walmart run me about $200/month. My biggest expenses are probably my car costs – I drive a lot for work so gas is $150-$200/month, plus insurance/maintenance. I also spend a decent amount on gym memberships and dining out, probably $300+/month for those. Healthcare with a high-deductible plan is very affordable at only around $150/month. Overall Auburn is pretty inexpensive if you have a modest lifestyle like mine.

As a serious foodie, I definitely feel like dining out is an area where costs in Auburn can get high if you’re not careful. There are some amazing local restaurants, but entrees at the really good places often start at $25-$30 per person before alcohol, tax, and tip. Going all-out with appetizers, wine pairings, desserts, etc. can easily run $75+ per person. Groceries from higher-end stores like Whole Foods and Fresh Market can also be pricey at $500-$600/month for me and my spouse. But we’re willing to splurge on quality food since that’s our major hobby/passion.

For an active family focused on healthy living, I find Auburn to be quite affordable overall. Housing is probably our biggest expense at $1,400/month for a 3-bedroom rental. But groceries from places like Sprouts and Publix run us only about $600/month thanks to buying mostly whole foods and cooking at home. We belong to the YMCA which is very reasonably priced for a family membership. And Auburn has so many free/low-cost outdoor activities which we take full advantage of. My only complaint is that some kids’ sports leagues and summer camps can get quite pricey.

I’m really frugal so I’ve figured out ways to live quite cheaply in Auburn! I rent a older 1-bedroom apartment for only $500/month. Most of my groceries come from Aldi, the farmer’s market, and ethnic markets which helps keep costs down to $150-$200/month. I drive an old but reliable car so transportation costs are quite low. And I take advantage of tons of free entertainment around town like parks, libraries, community events, etc. The biggest expense for me is probably my healthcare at around $250/month, but even that is manageable on my modest income if I’m careful with other spending.

I just relocated to Auburn for a new job a few months ago, so I’m still getting a feel for the costs here compared to where I used to live. But so far housing seems relatively affordable – I’m renting a decent 2-bedroom apartment for $900/month. Groceries from chains like Publix and Kroger are pretty typical, probably $400-$500/month for me. Utilities have been around $150/month. I was surprised by how inexpensive entertainment is with cheap movie tickets, reasonably priced bars/restaurants, etc. My biggest sticker shock has been the cost of daycare for my toddler at nearly $1,000/month!

I’m fortunate to be in the upper income brackets, so the overall cost of living in Auburn doesn’t feel unreasonably high to me. My family lives in a large 4-bedroom home in a nice neighborhood, and our monthly mortgage is around $3,000. We don’t really budget for groceries and just buy whatever we need from places like Whole Foods and The Fresh Market. Utilities for our big house run $400-$500/month. We belong to country clubs for golf, tennis, etc. which have high fees but are worth it for the lifestyle we enjoy. Entertainment-wise, we frequently spring for concerts, shows, and fancy restaurants without worrying too much about costs. The only real negative is that private school tuition is exorbitant.

Not owning a car has been a huge money-saver for me living in Auburn. I rely fully on public transit, Uber/Lyft, and just walking/biking everywhere. My rent for a simple studio apartment downtown is $700/month, which is decent. Groceries from chains like Publix and Aldi are around $250/month. And not having car costs like gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. saves me at least $300/month compared to friends with vehicles. My biggest expenses are probably utilities at $150/month and healthcare at $200/month. But overall, my car-free lifestyle allows me to live quite comfortably in Auburn on a tight budget.