What it actually costs to live in Colorado.
Colorado’s cost-of-living index sits at 110 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #14 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Colorado costs about 10% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $525,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,390/mo.
Colorado cost components
| Component | Colorado | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 110 | 100 |
| Median home price | $525,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,390/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $202/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Colorado compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Colorado ranks #14 for cost. That places Colorado in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Colorado metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Denver has very different housing dynamics than smaller Colorado metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- DenverCOL 121 · home $565,000rent $1,395/mo →
- Colorado SpringsCOL 103 · home $420,000rent $995/mo →
- Fort CollinsCOL 111 · home $500,000rent $1,500/mo →
- BoulderCOL 132 · home $780,000rent $2,100/mo →
- AuroraCOL 107 · home $445,000rent $1,650/mo →
- ThorntonCOL 108 · home $465,000rent $1,700/mo →
- WestminsterCOL 110 · home $480,000rent $1,750/mo →
- LakewoodCOL 109 · home $475,000rent $1,650/mo →
- PuebloCOL 88 · home $265,000rent $1,050/mo →
More Colorado metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Colorado cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Colorado?
Colorado's MERIC cost-of-living index is 110 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Colorado costs about 10% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Colorado?
Colorado's state-level median home price is approximately $525,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Colorado?
Colorado's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,390/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Colorado-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Colorado homeowners insurance has spiked ~50% since 2020 due to wildfire/hail risk; Front Range hail belt produces the highest auto/home claim rates in the US.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.