Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,750 in Denver, CO. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 9% higher in Denver, CO. Both cities are in Colorado, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Denver, CO

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,497
+50% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,583
+21% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,958
+30% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$2,269
+21% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$586,700
+39% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$91,681
+10% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$62,320
+18% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
35.2 yr
+0.4 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
49.1%
+12.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
55.6%
+13.7 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
25.4 min
+2.6 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
998.3
+38% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
4,781.9
+37% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
50.2°F
+1.2°F in Denver, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
15.6 in
+1.0 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.58/gal
+1% in Denver, CO

Area: Colorado vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.75
+57% in Denver, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
16.7
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$11.64
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CO)
2.9%
2.9%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
4.40%
about equal

Colorado Springs vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Denver?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Denver?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Denver?
Neither — both are in Colorado, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).