Cost of living in Colorado
Prices in Colorado are 3.1% above the US average (13th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,592 in state income tax. State sales tax: 2.9%.
Price levels in Colorado
| BEA RPP 2024 | Colorado | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.1 | +3.1% |
| Goods | 98.7 | −1.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 127.4 | +27.4% |
| Utilities | 85.0 | −15.0% |
| Other services | 99.6 | −0.4% |
Metros in Colorado
Metros whose principal city is in Colorado. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 3,092,037 | 105.8 | $2,169 | $430 | $557 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 781,796 | 100.7 | $1,621 | $350 | $1,059 |
| Greeley, CO | 378,426 | 100.2 | $1,647 | $341 | $1,132 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 377,292 | 101.1 | $1,759 | $391 | $850 |
| Boulder, CO | 328,560 | 105.2 | $2,033 | $404 | $704 |
| Pueblo, CO | 169,277 | 91.8 | $1,263 | $258 | $1,461 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 162,845 | 95.5 | $1,282 | $223 | $1,422 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Colorado (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Colorado income tax | $1,492 | $2,592 | $4,572 | $3,863 |
| Colorado payroll taxes | $220 | $330 | $528 | $528 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,387 | $4,889 | $7,346 | $8,399 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Colorado’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,922 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Colorado
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $235 | $14,914 | $187 |
| Toddler (2) | $215 | $13,670 | $183 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $202 | $12,818 | $183 |
| School-age (5–12) | $149 | $9,484 | $158 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $104 a week in Sedgwick County to $430 in Denver County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 62 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $484,200 | $2,962 | 0.61% |
| Broomfield County | $664,500 | $4,007 | 0.60% |
| Douglas County | $713,600 | $3,947 | 0.55% |
| Boulder County | $756,300 | $3,998 | 0.53% |
| Arapahoe County | $561,200 | $2,938 | 0.52% |
| Clear Creek County | $608,500 | $2,350 | 0.39% |
| Mesa County | $378,600 | $1,439 | 0.38% |
| Teller County | $479,900 | $1,672 | 0.35% |
| Park County | $532,100 | $1,771 | 0.33% |
| Gilpin County | $573,900 | $1,310 | 0.23% |
Five highest and five lowest of 17 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Colorado
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 181,683 in, 206,674 out (net −24,991).
- Texas27,574 ±4,594
- California19,717 ±3,479
- Florida12,564 ±3,529
- Arizona9,762 ±2,707
- Virginia8,039 ±4,554
- Washington6,188 ±1,802
- New Mexico5,593 ±1,771
- North Carolina5,537 ±2,093
- Texas22,986 ±4,909
- California15,781 ±3,397
- Arizona10,284 ±2,531
- Washington9,980 ±3,014
- Florida9,951 ±2,110
- New York7,985 ±3,618
- Missouri7,388 ±2,551
- North Carolina7,031 ±2,178
Frequently asked questions
Is Colorado expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Colorado’s overall price level at 103.1 in 2024 (US = 100), the 13th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 127.4 and goods 98.7.
Does Colorado have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,592 in Colorado income tax under 2026 law (3.5% of pay), plus $330 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Colorado?+
The state rate is 2.9% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Colorado?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Pueblo, CO leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,461), and Denver, CO the least ($557).