Aurora vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Aurora
Lakewood
💡 The Verdict
Lakewood is 6% cheaper than Aurora overall. A $75,000 salary in Aurora is equivalent to $70,395 in Lakewood.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Aurora (left) vs Lakewood (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Aurora versus Lakewood. Differences shown from Aurora perspective.
| Item | Aurora | Lakewood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,070/mo | $1,050/mo | +$20.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,500/mo | $1,400/mo | +$100.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,060/mo | $1,950/mo | +$110.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.13 | $3.06 | +$0.07 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.45 | $3.64 | +$0.81 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.87 | $3.59 | +$0.28 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.09 | $6.00 | +$0.09 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.58 | $3.31 | +$0.27 |
| Restaurant Meal | $20.05 | $17.14 | +$2.91 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Aurora has the same purchasing power as $70,395 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $79,907 in Aurora.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. Colorado details → · Colorado details →
Reading These Numbers: Aurora (114) vs Lakewood (107)
Aurora at 114 is 14% above the US average, while Lakewood at 107 is 7% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Aurora, the composite index of 114 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 115, followed by groceries (114), utilities (117), transportation (114), and healthcare (125). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,500/mo in Aurora and $1,400/mo in Lakewood, the annual rent difference is approximately $1,200.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $6,000.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $59,000.0 difference in median home prices between Aurora and Lakewood translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Aurora vs Lakewood
Choosing between Aurora and Lakewood involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Aurora against Lakewood, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.