Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 1% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,301
+30% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,323
+1% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,462
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,715
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$377,800
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$82,424
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$51,990
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
34.7 yr
+0.9 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
51.2%
+10.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
52.9%
+11.0 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.4 min
+0.6 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
491.5
+32% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
2,838.4
+19% 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
60.6°F
+11.6°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
46.0 in
+29.5 in in Raleigh, NC

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
$1.25
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
15.1
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$27.56
+131% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / NC)
2.9%
4.75%
+1.9 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
3.99%
+0.4 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Raleigh?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Raleigh?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).