Cost of Living Forum

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AuroraResident92 @auroraresident92
Joined: 2 years ago

Cost of Living in Aurora – What Should I Expect?

Hi everyone, I’ve been living in Aurora for the past 5 years, but I’m curious to hear from others about their experiences with the cost of living here. As a single professional in my early 30s, I find some expenses like housing and transportation to be on the higher side, but groceries and utilities seem relatively affordable. What has your experience been like? I’m looking to get a well-rounded perspective on the major costs – housing, food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, etc. Any insights you can share would be greatly appreciated!

Posts: 3

10 Replies


FamilyOfFour @familyoffour
Joined: 2 years ago

As a family of four with two young kids, our biggest expense by far is housing. We live in a 3-bedroom apartment outside of the city center, and we pay around $2,400 per month in rent. Groceries for our family can easily run $800-$1,000 per month, especially with the cost of fresh produce and meat. Utilities like electricity, water, and internet add another $300 or so to our monthly bills. Childcare is also a significant cost for us, with preschool/daycare fees running around $800 per child per month. Entertainment-wise, we try to stick to more affordable options like parks, libraries, and the occasional movie night. Overall, Aurora is a relatively expensive place to raise a family, but we’ve found ways to manage our expenses.
Posts: 14
YoungProfessional @youngprofessional
Joined: 10 months ago

As a young professional living alone in Aurora, my biggest expense is definitely rent. I pay around $1,700 for a one-bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood. Groceries are manageable, maybe $300-$400 per month if I cook most of my meals at home. Eating out can add up quickly though, with a casual meal for one costing around $20. Transportation is another significant cost – I pay $175 per month for a public transit pass, and gas is around $0.85 per liter if I drive. Utilities like electricity, internet, and my phone plan run me about $250 per month. Entertainment-wise, I try to balance splurging on things like concerts or weekend trips with more affordable options like hiking or catching a movie ($13 per ticket). Overall, it’s an expensive city, but the job opportunities and amenities make it worth it for me.
Posts: 22
RetiredCouple @retiredcouple
Joined: 25 days ago

We’re a retired couple living in Aurora, and our cost of living experience has been quite manageable. Our biggest expense is housing – we own our 2-bedroom condo outright, but property taxes and maintenance fees run us about $500 per month. Groceries are reasonable, maybe $400-$500 per month for the two of us. We don’t drive much anymore, so transportation costs are low aside from the occasional taxi or rideshare. Healthcare is our other major expense, with supplemental insurance and prescription costs running $300-$400 per month. Utilities like electricity, cable, and internet are around $200 per month. Entertainment is mostly low-cost activities like walking in the park, visiting the library, or catching a matinee movie. Overall, Aurora is a bit pricey for retirees on a fixed income, but it’s manageable if you budget wisely.
Posts: 25
SingleParent @singleparent
Joined: 2 years ago

As a single parent raising two kids in Aurora, the cost of living can be quite challenging. My biggest expense is housing – I pay $2,000 per month for a small 2-bedroom apartment near the kids’ school. Childcare is another significant cost at around $1,200 per month for after-school care and summer programs. Groceries for the three of us run about $600-$700 per month, and utilities like electricity, internet, and cell phones add another $300 or so. Transportation is a big factor too – I don’t have a car, so we rely on public transit ($175 per month for a family pass) or rideshares, which can really add up. Healthcare is also pricey, with insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for doctor’s visits and prescriptions. Entertainment is mostly free activities like parks and libraries. It’s a constant juggling act to make ends meet in Aurora as a single parent.
Posts: 24
FoodieCouple @foodiecouple
Joined: 11 months ago

My partner and I are both foodies living in Aurora, and our biggest expense by far is dining out. We easily spend $800-$1,000 per month trying new restaurants, grabbing drinks with friends, or splurging on fancy date nights. Groceries for the two of us run about $500 per month since we mainly cook simple meals at home. Housing is our next biggest cost at around $2,200 for a nice 2-bedroom apartment in a trendy neighborhood. Transportation is manageable since we both work remotely and mainly use rideshares or public transit ($175 per month for a pass). Utilities like electricity, internet, and streaming services are about $300 per month. Entertainment beyond dining out is mostly affordable activities like visiting local breweries, checking out art galleries, or catching a movie ($13 per ticket). While the foodie lifestyle is pricey in Aurora, we’ve made it a priority in our budget.
Posts: 7
StartupEntrepreneur @startupentrepreneur
Joined: 2 years ago

As an entrepreneur running a startup in Aurora, my cost of living situation is a bit unique. Housing is one of my biggest expenses at around $2,500 per month for a modern 2-bedroom apartment that doubles as my home office. However, many other costs are lower since it’s just me. Groceries run $300-$400 per month, utilities like electricity and internet are $200 or so, and I mostly rely on public transit ($175 monthly pass) or rideshares to get around. Entertainment is mainly work-related events, meetups, or the occasional concert or sporting event. Healthcare is a significant cost at over $500 per month for a premium individual plan. While the overall cost of living in Aurora is high, the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and amenities make it worthwhile for me at this stage of my career.
Posts: 6
OutdoorEnthusiast @outdoorenthusiast
Joined: 11 months ago

For me as an outdoor enthusiast living in Aurora, some costs are higher than others. Housing is definitely on the pricier side – I pay around $1,800 for a modest 1-bedroom apartment to be closer to the hiking trails and parks. Groceries are reasonable though, maybe $400 per month since I cook most of my meals. The big expenses for me are transportation and entertainment related to my active lifestyle. I have an older car, so maintenance, gas (around $0.85 per liter), and insurance run me $300-$400 per month. I also spend quite a bit on gear, park passes, camping/hiking fees, etc. – probably $200-$300 per month. Utilities are average at $200 or so per month. While Aurora isn’t a cheap place to live, the access to outdoor recreation makes it worth it for me.
Posts: 24
StudyingMillennial @studyingmillennial
Joined: 11 days ago

As a millennial student living in Aurora, budgeting is essential. My biggest expense is housing – I pay $800 per month for a small studio apartment near campus. Groceries run me $200-$300 per month if I’m careful about meal-prepping and avoiding too much dining out. I don’t have a car, so I rely on public transit ($50 per month for a student pass) and occasionally rideshares. Utilities like electricity and internet are about $100 per month in my building. Entertainment is mostly free or low-cost activities like hiking, visiting museums on free days, or catching a matinee movie ($10 student ticket). Health insurance through the university is $75 per month. Overall, Aurora isn’t a cheap place to be a student, but the educational opportunities make it worthwhile if you stick to a tight budget.
Posts: 21
DualIncomeNoKids @dualincomenokids
Joined: 2 years ago

My wife and I are a dual-income couple without kids living in Aurora, which gives us a bit more flexibility with our expenses. Housing is still our biggest cost at around $2,400 per month for a nice 2-bedroom apartment downtown. Groceries run us $600-$700 per month since we buy a lot of organic and specialty items. Utilities like electricity, internet, and streaming services are $300 or so per month. We each have our own car, so transportation costs like gas, insurance, and maintenance add up to $500-$600 per month. Entertainment is one of our indulgences – we love trying new restaurants ($200-$300 per month), attending concerts/shows ($100 per month), and taking weekend trips every few months. Healthcare is around $400 per month for our premiums. While the overall cost of living in Aurora is high, our dual incomes make it quite manageable.
Posts: 24
MinimalistSingle @minimalistsingle
Joined: 2 years ago

As a single minimalist, I’ve been able to keep my cost of living quite low in Aurora. My biggest expense is housing at $1,200 per month for a modest studio apartment. Groceries are around $200 per month since I eat a pretty simple, plant-based diet. I don’t have a car, so I rely fully on public transit ($100 per month for an unlimited pass) and the occasional rideshare. Utilities like electricity and internet are only about $100 per month. Healthcare is around $250 per month for a high-deductible insurance plan. Entertainment for me is mostly free activities like hiking, visiting parks and libraries, or attending community events. By living a minimalist lifestyle, I’m able to make it work quite comfortably in Aurora on a moderate income.
Posts: 22

Detailed Price Insights of Abilene, TX

  • Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant – 20.00 $
  • Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course – 60.00 $
  • McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) – 12.75 $
  • Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) – 4.00 $
  • Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) – 6.00 $
  • Cappuccino (regular) – 4.20 $
  • Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) – 2.50 $
  • Water (0.33 liter bottle) – 2.00 $
  • Milk (regular), (1 liter) – 1.12 $
  • Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 2.90 $
  • Eggs (regular) (12) – 2.80 $
  • Local Cheese (1kg) – 8.80 $
  • Chicken Fillets (1kg) – 9.54 $
  • Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) – 17.64 $
  • Apples (1kg) – 3.26 $
  • Banana (1kg) – 1.49 $
  • Oranges (1kg) – 3.09 $
  • Tomato (1kg) – 4.41 $
  • Potato (1kg) – 5.51 $
  • Onion (1kg) – 3.97 $
  • Water (1.5 liter bottle) – 3.85 $
  • Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) – 20.00 $
  • Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) – 1.73 $
  • Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) – 9.45 $
  • One-way Ticket (Local Transport) – 3.00 $
  • Monthly Pass (Regular Price) – 175.00 $
  • Gasoline (1 liter) – 0.85 $
  • Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment – 173.33 $
  • Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data – 43.00 $
  • Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) – 45.00 $
  • Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult – 12.00 $
  • Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat – 13.00 $
  • 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) – 32.33 $
  • 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) – 130.00 $
  • 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes – 150.00 $
  • Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre – 1,750.00 $
  • Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre – 1,506.67 $
  • Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre – 2,766.67 $
  • Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre – 2,393.33 $
  • Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre – 3,218.00 $
  • Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre – 3,218.00 $
  • Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) – 4,323.20 $
  • Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate – 6.53
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