Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Paterson, NJ is roughly 3% 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 $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 35% 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
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$998
$786
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,183
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,468
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,729
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$335,400
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$53,766
+35% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$61,430
+17% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
33.3 yr
+2.3 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
26.2%
+35.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
12.5%
+29.4 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.1 min
+0.3 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
1,010.1
+40% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
3,488.7
2,391.4
+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
52.2°F
+3.2°F in Paterson, NJ
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
49.0 in
+32.5 in in Paterson, NJ

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
24.9
+46% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$17.68
+17% in Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Paterson?
Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% 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 Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Paterson?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Paterson 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).