Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Pueblo compared to Colorado Springs? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Pueblo | Metric | Colorado Springs | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Cost of Living Index | 103 | +17.0% |
| $265,000 | Median Home Price | $420,000 | +58.5% |
| $1,050 | Median Monthly Rent | $995 | -5.2% |
| $45,800 | Median Household Income | $71,200 | +55.5% |
| 0.6% | Property Tax Rate | 0.5% | -8.3% |
| 4.8% | Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | -27.1% |
| 20 min | Average Commute | 24 min | +20.0% |
| 36.2 | Median Age | 34.8 | -3.9% |
| 185,000 | Metro Population | 760,000 | +310.8% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Pueblo costs $1,550/month (PITI) compared to $2,439/month in Colorado Springs — a difference of $889/month or $10,668/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.8x in Pueblo versus 5.9x in Colorado Springs, suggesting Pueblo is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 7.7 years to save a down payment in Pueblo compared to 7.9 years in Colorado Springs.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Pueblo | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $45,800 | $71,200 |
| State Income Tax | $1,355 | $2,473 |
| Federal Income Tax | $3,367 | $7,113 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $3,504 | $5,446 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $1,590/yr | $2,310/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Total Tax Burden | $8,226 (18.0%) | $15,032 (21.1%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $37,574 | $56,168 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $8,226 in Pueblo (18.0% effective) versus $15,032 in Colorado Springs (21.1% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $37,574 in Pueblo and $56,168 in Colorado Springs. Property taxes add $1,590/year on the median Pueblo home versus $2,310/year in Colorado Springs.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $45,800 in Pueblo (COL 88) and relocate to Colorado Springs (COL 103), you would need $53,607 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $7,807 to maintain the same standard of living in Colorado Springs.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Pueblo is 20 minutes versus 24 minutes in Colorado Springs, a difference of 4 minutes each way. Colorado Springs's lower unemployment rate of 3.5% versus 4.8% suggests a stronger job market. Pueblo skews slightly older with a median age of 36.2 vs 34.8 in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs is 17.0% more expensive than Pueblo overall. Colorado Springs has a cost of living index of 103 compared to 88 for Pueblo (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $420,000 in Colorado Springs vs $265,000 in Pueblo.
The median home price in Colorado Springs is $420,000, which is $155,000 more than Pueblo's median of $265,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $995/month in Colorado Springs vs $1,050/month in Pueblo, a difference of $55/month or $660/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $45,800 salary in Pueblo is equivalent to $53,607 in Colorado Springs. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Pueblo's COL index of 88 vs Colorado Springs's 103. Conversely, $71,200 in Colorado Springs equals $60,831 in Pueblo.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $8,226 (18.0% effective rate) in Pueblo vs $15,032 (21.1% effective rate) in Colorado Springs. Property taxes on the median home are $1,590/year in Pueblo (0.6% rate) vs $2,310/year in Colorado Springs (0.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 2.9% in Colorado and 2.9% in Colorado.
Pueblo median household income: $45,800/yr. Colorado Springs median household income: $71,200/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,050 in Pueblo vs $995 in Colorado Springs. Annualized that is $12,600 vs $11,940.
Pueblo offers a lower cost of living (index 88 vs 103), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Colorado Springs typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Pueblo and Colorado Springs numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Pueblo vs Colorado Springs cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .