Fort Lauderdale vs Aurora: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Fort Lauderdale, FL and Aurora, IL, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricFort Lauderdale, FLAurora, IL
Population182,673181,405
Median household income$75,376$85,943
Median home value$417,600$241,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,627$1,462

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Fort Lauderdale, FL and Aurora, IL comes down to what you value most. Aurora has the lower median home value, and Aurora has the lower median rent.

Aurora has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Lauderdale or Aurora?
By median home value, Aurora is the cheaper of the two ($241,600 vs $417,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Fort Lauderdale or Aurora?
Median household income is $75,376 in Fort Lauderdale versus $85,943 in Aurora, per the US Census Bureau.

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