Cost of Living · Colorado
Denver Cost of Living
Denver, Colorado costs approximately 8.0% above the US national average. Compare with 49 other major US cities.
1.08×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Denver ranks 1 of 3 cities in Colorado by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Denver (20)
San Francisco, CA
+34.3% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+25.0% more expensive
New York City, NY
+22.2% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+20.4% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+20.4% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+13.0% more expensive
Boston, MA
+13.0% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+12.0% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+11.1% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+11.1% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+9.3% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+9.3% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+9.3% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+9.3% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+6.5% more expensive
Miami, FL
+3.7% more expensive
Portland, OR
+1.9% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+1.9% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+1.9% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+1.9% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Denver (79)
Chicago, IL
−2.8% cheaper
Austin, TX
−2.8% cheaper
Baltimore, MD
−2.8% cheaper
Stockton, CA
−2.8% cheaper
Aurora, CO
−2.8% cheaper
Hialeah, FL
−2.8% cheaper
Frisco, TX
−2.8% cheaper
Las Vegas, NV
−3.7% cheaper
Minneapolis, MN
−3.7% cheaper
Plano, TX
−3.7% cheaper
Chandler, AZ
−3.7% cheaper
Phoenix, AZ
−5.6% cheaper
Philadelphia, PA
−5.6% cheaper
Atlanta, GA
−5.6% cheaper
Tampa, FL
−5.6% cheaper
Henderson, NV
−5.6% cheaper
Reno, NV
−5.6% cheaper
Gilbert, AZ
−5.6% cheaper
Charleston, SC
−5.6% cheaper
Salt Lake City, UT
−5.6% cheaper
Orlando, FL
−6.5% cheaper
Wilmington, DE
−7.4% cheaper
Raleigh, NC
−7.4% cheaper
Virginia Beach, VA
−7.4% cheaper
St. Paul, MN
−7.4% cheaper
Chesapeake, VA
−7.4% cheaper
North Las Vegas, NV
−7.4% cheaper
Boise, ID
−7.4% cheaper
Fresno, CA
−7.4% cheaper
Worcester, MA
−7.4% cheaper
Dallas, TX
−8.3% cheaper
Nashville, TN
−8.3% cheaper
Colorado Springs, CO
−8.3% cheaper
Bakersfield, CA
−8.3% cheaper
St. Petersburg, FL
−8.3% cheaper
Madison, WI
−8.3% cheaper
Norfolk, VA
−9.3% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−10.2% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−10.2% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−10.2% cheaper
Houston, TX
−11.1% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−11.1% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−11.1% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−11.1% cheaper
Garland, TX
−11.1% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−11.1% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−12.0% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−12.0% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−12.0% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−13.0% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−13.0% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−13.0% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−13.9% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−13.9% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−14.8% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−14.8% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−14.8% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−14.8% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−14.8% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−14.8% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−14.8% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−14.8% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−14.8% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−15.7% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−15.7% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−15.7% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−15.7% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−16.7% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−16.7% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−16.7% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−17.6% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−17.6% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−17.6% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−18.5% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−18.5% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−18.5% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−20.4% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−20.4% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−20.4% cheaper
Denver cost of living, in context
With a cost-of-living index of 1.08× the US national average, Denver sits above the typical American cost baseline. 20 of the 49 other major US cities we track cost more, while 79 cost less.
What drives the index: housing dominates (typically 30-40% of household budget), followed by transportation (~15%), food (~10%), healthcare (~10%), and utilities/services. Denver's near-average pricing means most categories track national norms.
Salary in Denver
Salaries in Denver typically scale with the cost-of-living index. A professional earning $X in a national-average metro would expect approximately $108K for the same role in Denver. See our salary by job in Denver pages for specific role estimates across 50 jobs.
Related tools
Denver Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home with city/state taxes. Denver salary by job — 50 jobs. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cost of living index for Denver?▾
Denver's cost-of-living index is 1.08× US average — meaning living costs are approximately 8.0% above the national average. Major drivers: housing, taxes, transportation. Index based on BEA Regional Price Parities.
Is Denver expensive to live in?▾
Denver sits near the US average for cost of living. Some neighborhoods are pricey (urban cores), others affordable.
What salary do I need to live in Denver?▾
Living comfortably in Denver typically requires income matching the local cost-of-living multiplier × what you'd need elsewhere. For a "moderate" lifestyle: household income of $60K+ is often suggested. Use our salary by city pages for job-specific estimates.
How does Denver compare within Colorado?▾
Denver ranks 1 of 3 cities we track in Colorado by cost of living. Within-state variation can be significant — major metros typically cost more than smaller cities or rural areas.
Where does this index come from?▾
BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — published annually by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Reflects cost differences for the same basket of goods/services across metros. Useful baseline; specific items (housing, dining out) can vary much more than the overall index suggests.