Is there a way to compare your currently equipped items with those in the auction house?

I'm not seeing a way to do this which makes it hard to decide if I want to buy something for my characters. Ideally I can see the item and then see what items my characters have of the same type almost like comparing and item in inventory.

Just select your character on the equipment tab of the auction house and then hover over the icon of any listed item, you'll get the details of the listed item and your equipped item displayed both.

You must hover over the icon, not any other part of the row.

you can if you link the AH item to one of your mates, then start a game and click on the item you linked. As in you have to be in game for the stat difference to show