Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 29% 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 $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 22% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$998
$786
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$877
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,096
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,299
+31% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$221,500
+47% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$64,731
+22% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$48,370
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
37.7 yr
+2.1 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
61.3%
60.6%
+0.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
33.4%
+8.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.7 min
+0.1 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
761.5
+6% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,487.9
3,535.4
+1% in Louisville, KY

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
58.2°F
+9.2°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
44.9 in
+28.4 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.35/gal
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
14.9
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$19.12
+64% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / KY)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
3.50%
+0.9 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Louisville?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Louisville?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).