Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Nashua?

Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Nashua?

Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Colorado Springs vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 10% higher in Nashua, NH. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$998

$1,127

+13% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,305

$1,383

+6% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,504

$1,699

+13% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,881

$1,951

+4% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,700

$373,100

+11% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$83,198

$92,457

+11% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,710

$56,530

+7% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.6 yr

39.7 yr

+4.1 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

61.3%

56.4%

+4.9 pp in Colorado Springs, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.9%

40.5%

+1.4 pp in Colorado Springs, CO

Avg Commute

22.8 min

25.3 min

+2.5 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

722.1

164.9

+77% in Colorado Springs, CO

Property Crime

3,488.7

1,269

+64% 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

49.2°F

+0.2°F in Nashua, NH

Annual Precipitation

16.5 in

44.6 in

+28.0 in in Nashua, NH

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

27.0

+58% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$21.67

+44% in Nashua, NH

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

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Nashua, NH

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 / NH)

2.9%

None

+2.9 pp in CO

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

None

+4.4 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Nashua?: Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Nashua?: Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).