Is Colorado Springs expensive to live in?

Colorado Springs is on the pricier side of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,305 per month ranks #21 of 50 and is 7% higher than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Colorado Springs?

Average rent in Colorado Springs, CO runs a studio around $998, a one-bedroom around $1,305, a two-bedroom around $1,504, a three-bedroom around $1,881 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,305 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year. The median household income here is $83,198.

How much does it cost to live in Colorado Springs per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Colorado Springs is about $1,470 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

A view of a city with mountains in the background — Colorado Springs, CO

Cost of Living in Colorado Springs, CO

Population 478,221 · Colorado

~$1,470/mo est.1BR $1,305Home $420,700

Photo: Bill Griepenstroh / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Colorado Springs, CO is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,305 a month — 7% higher than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $998 and two-bedrooms $1,504.

Median household income here is $83,198, 10% higher than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,470 before food and transport. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,305

Studio

$998

1 Bedroom

$1,305

2 Bedroom

$1,504

3 Bedroom

$1,881

Buying a Home$420,700

Median Home Value

$420,700

Income$83,198

Median Household Income

$83,198

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,710

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.7¢/kWh

Electricity

16.7¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$11.64/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.54/gal

Regular Gasoline (Colorado)

$4.54/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.75

Base Fare (Mountain Metro)

$1.75

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (CO)2.9% sales

State Sales Tax

2.90%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.40%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime721.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

721.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,487.9

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Colorado Springs Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 35.6 yrs

Median Age

35.6 yrs

Homeownership

61.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.9%

Avg Commute

22.8 min

Climate49.0°F

Avg Annual Temperature

49.0°F

Annual Precipitation

16.5 in

Colorado Springs cost of living — FAQ

Is Colorado Springs expensive to live in?: Colorado Springs is on the pricier side of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,305 per month ranks #21 of 50 and is 7% higher than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Colorado Springs?: Average rent in Colorado Springs, CO runs a studio around $998, a one-bedroom around $1,305, a two-bedroom around $1,504, a three-bedroom around $1,881 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,305 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year. The median household income here is $83,198.
How much does it cost to live in Colorado Springs per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Colorado Springs is about $1,470 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Colorado Springs with nearby cities

Colorado Springs vs Aurora Colorado Springs vs Denver Colorado Springs vs Albuquerque Colorado Springs vs Oklahoma City Colorado Springs vs El Paso Colorado Springs vs Omaha

Nearby cities

Aurora, CO 62 mi Denver, CO 63 mi Albuquerque, NM 278 mi Oklahoma City, OK 464 mi El Paso, TX 498 mi Omaha, NE 499 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.