Are you considering a move to the stunning state of Colorado? The list of all the great reasons to move to this beautiful state is a long one. Whether you’re looking for some great skiing during the winter months or gorgeous hiking during the summer, you can find both here. Though that’s hardly all of the amazing things Colorado has to offer. With a wide variety of job opportunities as well as so many great things to do in your free time, it’s easy to see what someone would want to call Colorado home. However, when choosing your next home, you have to consider the cost of living in each city.
When you choose to live in Colorado, you’ll find that it is more expensive than living in other places in the U.S. And depending on where you choose to live, it can be even higher than the Colorado average.
Before you pack up your stuff and head out west, check out the breakdown of the cost of living in Colorado compared with four of the largest cities in The Centennial State. This scale is based on a U.S. average of 100.
Overall
| Cost of Living | Colorado | Denver | Colorado Springs | Aurora | Fort Collins |
| Overall | 121.1 | 128.7 | 104.5 | 117.2 | 118.3 |
| Grocery | 100.7 | 101.9 | 98.4 | 99.3 | 101.1 |
| Health | 95.8 | 92.5 | 95.1 | 94.3 | 96.4 |
| Housing | 166.1 | 184.3 | 124.5 | 141.6 | 168.6 |
| Utilities | 98.4 | 96.2 | 92.4 | 96.1 | 91.3 |
| Transportation | 106.7 | 116.1 | 95.1 | 121.6 | 87.4 |
| Miscellaneous | 100.2 | 102.8 | 96.7 | 100.2 | 103.5 |
Housing
Average Monthly Rent by Bedroom Size
| Colorado | Denver | Colorado Springs | Aurora | Fort Collins | |
| Studio | $1,097 | $1,177 | $826 | $1,927 | $1,045 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,211 | $1,299 | $965 | $2,286 | $1,102 |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,494 | $1,580 | $1,216 | $2,807 | $1,370 |
Median Home Prices
| Colorado | Denver | Colorado Springs | Aurora | Fort Collins | |
| Home price | $488,600 | $534,100 | $410,900 | $434,800 | $487,800 |
| Monthly mortgage + interest for 30-year loan | $2,536 | $2,624 | $2,133 | $2,257 | $2,532 |
Transportation
| Colorado | Denver | Colorado Springs | Aurora | Fort Collins | |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.97 | $3.95 | $3.94 | $3.97 | $3.92 |
| Monthly public transit pass | N/A | $114 | $63 | $114 | Currently suspended |
Food
| Denver | Colorado Springs | Aurora | Fort Collins | |
| Bread | $2.92 | 2.48 | $3.75 | $2.65 |
| Rice per pound | $1.65 | $1.67 | $2.39 | $2.14 |
| Dozen eggs | $2.66 | $2.29 | $2.49 | $3.00 |
| Apples per pound | $1.89 | $2.69 | $1.90 | $2.55 |
| Potatoes per pound | $0.90 | $1.06 | $0.79 | $1.17 |
| Gallon of milk | $3.36 | $3.08 | $2.76 | $3.40 |
| 1.5 liter bottle of water | $2.01 | $2.26 | $1.59 | $2.43 |
| Domestic Beer | $2.64 | $3.56 | $2.23 | $3.64 |
| Cappuccino | $4.87 | $4.95 | $5.83 | $4.90 |
| Inexpensive Restaurant meal | $18.00 | $15.00 | $11.50 | $11.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds | $9.25 | $8.00 | $8.64 | $8.00 |
Entertainment
| Denver | Colorado Springs | Aurora | Fort Collins | |
| Movie ticket | $12.00 | $11.00 | $9.00 | $975 |
| Bowling per hour | $30.00 | $20.00 | $36.00 | $27.00 |
| Professional sports | Starting at $9 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Orchestra | $27 | $29 | $20.00 | $28 |
It can be a bit daunting to consider moving to Colorado when it costs so much more to live there than in other parts of the United States. But there are so many great benefits to choosing this amazing state to call home. What are your experiences with living in these cities and the cost of living there? What draws you to the area? Or keeps you here? Head on down to the comments and let us know.
If you’re looking for a new place to live, find your next dream apartment here. And as you search for the best apartment to fill your needs, be sure to check out our post on luxury apartments in the Denver area.
For more about these numbers, check out our sources:
- Colorado: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/state/colorado
- Denver: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/denver
- Colorado Springs: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/colorado_springs
- Aurora: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/aurora
- Fort Collins: https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/fort_collins
- Denver: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Denver
- Colorado Springs: https://www.numbeo.com/food-prices/in/Colorado-Springs
- Aurora: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Aurora-CO
- Fort Collins: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Fort-Collins