Cost of Living in Denver, CO
Denver's cost of living index is 128 — making it 21.9% more expensive than the US national average. To maintain your current standard of living here, you would need to earn $128,000 for every $100,000 of national-average income.
The Denver Tax & Cost Impact
Denver offers a balanced tax profile. While Colorado does have an income tax, it remains competitive compared to coastal hubs, especially when adjusted for local housing costs.
Decision Matrix
- ✓Housing: Expect a major "Housing Premium" here.
- ✓Savings Rate: To save $2,000/mo here, you need a gross household income of ~$107,520.
COL Index
128
100 = national avg
Monthly Budget
$6,400
vs $5,000 national
Population
0.7M
Metro area
State Tax
Yes
Colorado
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs in Denver vs national average for a typical household.
| Category | National Avg | Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,650 | $2,343 | +$693 |
| Groceries | $650 | $796 | +$146 |
| Transportation | $800 | $1,002 | +$202 |
| Healthcare | $400 | $478 | +$78 |
| Utilities | $300 | $384 | +$84 |
| Other | $1,200 | $1,469 | +$269 |
| Total | $5,000 | $6,400 | +$1,400 |
Estimated Budget: Single vs. Family of Four
Estimates from LifeCalc's model, not surveyed prices. We treat the $5,000 national baseline as a family-of-four budget, scale each category by Denver's index (housing moves 1.5x as much as the index, groceries 0.8x, and so on), then apply assumed single-adult shares per category (housing 65%, groceries 30%, transportation 55%, healthcare 30%, utilities 60%, other 45%).
| Category | Single adult / mo | Family of four / mo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,523 | $2,343 |
| Groceries | $239 | $796 |
| Transportation | $551 | $1,002 |
| Healthcare | $143 | $478 |
| Utilities | $230 | $384 |
| Other | $661 | $1,469 |
| Total (estimate) | $3,347 | $6,472 |
For comparison, the same model gives about $2,548 (single) and $5,000 (family of four) at the national average. Denver is $1,472 above the family baseline each month.
Salary Needed and State Tax Context
Our dataset's median of state median household incomes is $77,871. Scaling that by Denver's index of 128 suggests you would need roughly $99,675 a year here to match that standard of living. This is a cost-of-living adjustment only; it does not adjust for your household or housing choices.
Colorado's top marginal income tax rate is 4.4%; on $99,675 our bracket data gives about $4,386 of state income tax for a single filer. Colorado's statewide cost index is 105 and its median household income is $97,113. See all Colorado tax brackets.
Closest cities by index
Salary Equivalent
To maintain the same standard of living in Denver, a national-average salary translates to:
$50,000 nationally
$64,000
$75,000 nationally
$96,000
$100,000 nationally
$128,000
$150,000 nationally
$192,000
What Your Salary Gets You in Denver
Here's how different salary levels translate to monthly purchasing power in Denver, CO, where the cost of living is 28% above the national average.
Cities With Similar Cost of Living
FAQ: Cost of Living in Denver
Is Denver expensive to live in?
Denver's cost of living index is 128, which is significantly above the national average of 100. Housing is typically the biggest factor, with estimated monthly rent around $2,112.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Denver?
To maintain a middle-class lifestyle in Denver, you'd need approximately $96,000 per year, which is equivalent to a $75,000 salary at the national average cost of living.
How does Denver compare to other cities?
Denver is comparable in cost to Miami, Anchorage, Portland. More affordable alternatives include Hialeah, Aurora, Atlanta.