Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Raleigh?

Denver 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).

Denver vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 10% higher in Denver, 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.

Denver, CO

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,301

+13% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,323

+16% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,462

+25% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,715

+24% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$377,800

+36% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$82,424

+10% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$51,990

+17% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

34.7 yr

+0.5 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

51.2%

+2.1 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

52.9%

+2.7 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

23.4 min

+2.0 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

998.3

491.5

+51% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.9

2,838

+41% 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

60.6°F

+10.4°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

46.0 in

+30.4 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.58/gal

$4.30/gal

+6% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$1.25

+55% in Denver, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

16.0

+4% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$17.50

+50% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Denver, CO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Denver, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Denver, 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

Denver vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Raleigh?: Denver 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).