Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Hartford?

Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Hartford?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $42,000 in Hartford.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Hartford?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Denver vs Hartford Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/mo est.

Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 51% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$973

+35% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,042

+34% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,296

+34% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,433

+37% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$217,200

+63% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$45,300

+51% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$59,940

+4% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

33.4 yr

+1.8 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

25.7%

+23.4 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

18.3%

+37.3 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

22.8 min

+2.6 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

527.5

+47% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

2,949.2

+38% in Denver, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

51.2°F

+1.0°F in Hartford, CT

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

43.6 in

+28.0 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.16/gal

$3.94/gal

+5% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

24.3

+42% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$23.33

+55% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Hartford, CT

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 / CT)

2.9%

6.35%

+3.4 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

6.99%

+2.6 pp in CT

Denver vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Hartford?: Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Hartford?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Hartford?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).