Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 18% 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 $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 42% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,111
+11% in Newark, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$978
+25% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,386
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,695
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$337,800
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$48,416
+42% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$61,430
+17% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
34.8 yr
+0.8 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
24.1%
+37.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
17.4%
+24.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
33.2 min
+10.4 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
582.5
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
1,961.8
+44% 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
54.9°F
+5.9°F in Newark, NJ
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
46.3 in
+29.7 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.86/gal
+9% 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)
16.2
23.3
+44% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$15.93
+34% in Newark, NJ

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 Newark, NJ
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 / NJ)
2.9%
6.625%
+3.7 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
10.75%
+6.3 pp in NJ

Colorado Springs vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Newark?
Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% 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 Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Newark?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).