Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 13% 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 $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 5% higher in Rochester, MN. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,080
+8% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,106
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,243
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,646
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$287,500
+32% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$87,767
+5% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$60,620
+15% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
36.4 yr
+0.8 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
61.3%
65.4%
+4.1 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
50.1%
+8.2 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
22.8 min
17.2 min
+5.6 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
158.9
+78% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
1,379
+60% 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
45.4°F
+3.6°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
33.0 in
+16.5 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.95/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
16.9
+5% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$14.95
+25% in Rochester, MN

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
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Rochester, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MN)
2.9%
6.875%
+4.0 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
9.85%
+5.4 pp in MN

Colorado Springs vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Rochester?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% 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 Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Rochester?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).