Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,550/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,550 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 6% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$998
+30% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,305
+5% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,504
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,881
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$420,700
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$83,198
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$52,710
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
35.6 yr
+1.2 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
51.5%
61.3%
+9.8 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
41.9%
+5.5 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
22.8 min
+2.2 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
721.1
+2% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,719
3,487.9
+6% in Charlotte, NC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
49.0°F
+10.9°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
16.5 in
+25.1 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.54/gal
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
$1.75
+20% in Charlotte, NC

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs Mountain Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
16.7
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$11.64
+33% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / CO)
4.75%
2.9%
+1.9 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
4.40%
+0.4 pp in CO

Charlotte vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Charlotte, NC's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Colorado Springs?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).