Living Cost Compare
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

vs
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 $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Denver, CO is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 14% 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.

Denver, CO
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,497
$1,763
+18% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,583
$1,885
+19% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,958
$1,949
+0% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,269
$2,249
+1% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$586,700
$724,600
+24% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$91,681
$106,287
+16% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$71,060
+14% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
34.9 yr
+0.3 yr in Denver, CO
Homeownership
49.1%
41.1%
+8.0 pp in Denver, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.6%
63.6%
+8.0 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
25.4 min
30.3 min
+4.9 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
998.3
936
+6% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
4,781.9
3,627.1
+24% 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
58.2°F
+8.0°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
39.7 in
+24.2 in in Washington, DC

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
$2.00
+27% in Denver, CO

Adult base one-way fare — RTD 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 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 / DC)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
10.75%
+6.3 pp in DC

Denver vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Washington?
Denver, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,750 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Washington?
Denver 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).