Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 21% 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 $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 44% 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
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$998
$750
+25% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$857
+34% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,114
+26% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,240
+34% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$120,600
+71% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$46,628
+44% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$51,210
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
33.5 yr
+2.1 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
37.2%
+24.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
29.9%
+12.0 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
18.9 min
+3.9 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
690
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
3,533.4
+1% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+0.8°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
34.3 in
+17.7 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.04/gal
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
29.9
+85% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$22.74
+91% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY
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 / 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 Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% 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 $34,000 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 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).