For a family of four like us, the costs in Auburn can really add up. Our 3-bedroom apartment outside the center runs us $2,800 per month, which is already a huge chunk of our income. Groceries for our household easily hit $1,000 or more each month, even buying mostly basics and cooking at home. We also have to factor in childcare costs, which can be steep for two kids in preschool/elementary school. Entertainment is limited to an occasional family movie night or meal out. Overall, I’d say Auburn isn’t the most affordable place to raise a family unless you have a very comfortable dual income.

As a young professional, I find the living costs in Auburn to be pretty manageable on my salary. I pay $1,500 for a nice 1-bedroom downtown, which is pricey but allows me to live centrally and avoid commuting. Groceries, utilities, and other essentials maybe run me $600-700 per month. I can afford to go out regularly, whether it’s grabbing drinks ($7 for a beer seems standard), casual meals ($15 for an inexpensive restaurant meal), or entertainment like movies ($13.50 for a ticket). Healthcare costs through my work plan are also very reasonable. The biggest downside is that saving for bigger goals like buying property is tough with the high housing prices here.

I was born and raised in Auburn, and I’ve managed to keep my living costs quite low compared to most. I own my modest 2-bedroom house outright in a quieter neighborhood, so no mortgage payment. Utilities and other basics for just me and my wife probably average $300 per month. We mostly cook inexpensive meals at home – a lot of rice, beans, veggies etc. Don’t really indulge much in restaurant meals, alcohol, or pricey entertainment. We take advantage of parks, libraries, and free community events instead. Healthcare is one area where costs can sneak up as we’re on a high-deductible plan, but we try to keep on top of preventive care. All in all, it’s definitely possible to live a simple but comfortable lifestyle in Auburn without breaking the bank if you’re mindful of expenses.

My wife and I are both retired here in Auburn, so our living costs fortunately are relatively low at this stage of life. Our main expenses are our mortgage (though only a small remaining balance), property taxes, utilities for our 3-bedroom house, and healthcare costs. We probably spend $500-600 per month for two people on groceries, cooking nearly all meals at home. We don’t go too crazy with entertainment – movies, golf, travel etc. But we do enjoy small luxuries here and there like dining out a couple times a month. All in all, Auburn hasn’t been too burdensome for us cost-wise during retirement, though the housing market has gotten quite pricey over the decades we’ve lived here.

As a single mom working hourly jobs in the arts/music scene, I’ll be honest – making ends meet in Auburn is an ongoing struggle. I pay $1,300 for a 2-bedroom apartment for me and my son, which already eats up a big portion of my inconsistent monthly income. Childcare is another major expense when I need to go to gigs or rehearsals. We economize a lot on groceries, clothes, and don’t really have money for extras like travel or fancy restaurants. Healthcare costs through my high-deductible plan are also really difficult when big expenses come up. I love the community here, but the cost of living in Auburn is really hard, especially without a stable 9-5 job situation.

Our family tries to eat very healthy foods and maintain an active lifestyle, which can make the cost of living in Auburn somewhat high. We probably spend $1,200+ per month just on organic groceries, plus $90 for a family gym membership, yoga studio fees, etc. We live in a 3-bedroom apartment downtown for $3,150, which is pricey but allows us to walk/bike more places instead of driving. On the plus side, Auburn has a lot of cool community gardens, recreation facilities, and outdoor activities that are free or low-cost. Entertainment for our family usually consists of hiking, playing sports, or checking out parks. So while some living costs are quite high if you prioritize health/fitness, there are economical options too.

I moved to Auburn a couple years ago to launch a tech startup, and honestly, the living costs here have been tough to manage on a bootstrapped budget. I pay $1,500 for a small 1-bed to keep overhead low, but rent alone consumes such a big part of my income. Groceries, utilities, transportation for commuting to the office, healthcare through a high-deductible plan – it all adds up quickly. I try to cook affordable meals, but definitely treat myself to local craft beers ($4-7 per bottle) on occasion. Entertainment is usually just hanging out at breweries with the startup crowd. Once we start bringing in more revenue, I’m sure the costs here will feel more manageable. But Auburn is definitely not the cheapest place for a bootstrapped entrepreneur right now.

A major portion of my living costs goes to my two furry roommates – an elderly dog and cat that require a lot of specialty healthcare. I pay around $200 per month for their medications, vet visits, premium food, etc. On top of that, my own expenses like $1,300 for a modest 1-bedroom, utilities, groceries, and healthcare premiums really start to strain my budget. I’m pretty frugal in most other spending areas – cooking at home, reading at libraries, going on hikes instead of paying for entertainment. But the costs associated with having pets with medical needs have made living in Auburn more expensive than I expected when I moved here. It’s a price I’m willing to pay to care for them properly, but it’s definitely a significant factor in the overall cost of living.

My wife and I are dinks (dual income, no kids) and while the lack of childcare costs helps, the overall living costs in Auburn still feel quite high to us. Our combined take-home pay is around $12,000 per month, which sounds good until you factor in $2,800 for our 3-bedroom apartment outside downtown. Add utilities, transportation, maxing out our retirement contributions, plus leisure spending on dining out ($60 for a mid-range restaurant meal feels standard), gym memberships, travel etc. and we definitely aren’t living an extravagant lifestyle by any means. Healthcare premiums through my employer are also quite costly. Don’t get me wrong, we’re fortunate to be dinks and live comfortably in Auburn. But the city isn’t as affordable as its reputation might suggest, even for working professionals without kids.

As a college student at the local university, keeping living costs down in Auburn is an ongoing challenge. I pay $800 per month for a bedroom in a shared 3-bedroom apartment, plus probably $300 on groceries, utilities, healthcare premiums through the school, etc. Textbooks and fees are also so expensive. I try to cut corners where I can – utilizing campus amenities, cooking affordable meals, staying in instead of going out too much. Having a meal plan also helps reduce food expenses. Still, between tuition and living costs, being a student in Auburn requires taking out loans and working part-time jobs to make ends meet. The good thing is that after graduation, average salaries in this area would make it feel much more affordable.