Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 4% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
New York City, NY

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,633
+64% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,705
+31% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,781
+18% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$2,065
+10% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$751,700
+79% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$79,713
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$61,430
+17% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
38.0 yr
+2.4 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
61.3%
32.8%
+28.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
41.0%
+0.9 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
40.6 min
+17.8 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
690.9
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
2,413.5
+31% 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
55.0°F
+6.0°F in New York City, NY
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
49.9 in
+33.4 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.44/gal
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$3.00
+71% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
28.6
+71% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$18.90
+62% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.92
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.90
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.02
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.68
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / NY)
2.9%
4%
+1.1 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
10.90%
+6.5 pp in NY

Colorado Springs vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or New York City?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or New York City?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).