Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 46% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$998
$973
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,042
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,296
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,433
+24% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$217,200
+48% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$45,300
+46% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$59,940
+14% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
33.4 yr
+2.2 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
25.7%
+35.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
18.3%
+23.6 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.8 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
527.5
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
2,949.2
+15% in Colorado Springs, 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
51.2°F
+2.2°F in Hartford, CT
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
43.6 in
+27.1 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
24.3
+42% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$23.33
+55% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CT)
2.9%
6.35%
+3.4 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
6.99%
+2.6 pp in CT

Colorado Springs vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Hartford?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).