Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Washington?

Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Washington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Washington?

Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Colorado Springs vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 22% higher in Washington, DC. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$998

$1,763

+77% in Washington, DC

1 Bedroom

$1,305

$1,885

+44% in Washington, DC

2 Bedroom

$1,504

$1,949

+30% in Washington, DC

3 Bedroom

$1,881

$2,249

+20% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,700

$724,600

+72% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$83,198

$106,287

+28% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,710

$71,060

+35% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.6 yr

34.9 yr

+0.7 yr in Colorado Springs, CO

Homeownership

61.3%

41.1%

+20.2 pp in Colorado Springs, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.9%

63.6%

+21.7 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

22.8 min

30.3 min

+7.5 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

721.1

936

+30% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

3,487.9

3,627.1

+4% in Washington, DC

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

58.2°F

+9.2°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

16.5 in

39.7 in

+23.2 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$4.30/gal

+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

$2.00

+14% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

25.0

+49% in Washington, DC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$18.01

+55% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Colorado Springs, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Colorado Springs, CO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Colorado Springs, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Colorado Springs, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / DC)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in DC

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

10.75%

+6.3 pp in DC

Colorado Springs vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Washington?: Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Washington?: Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).