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Durango, CO

Cost of living in La Plata County, CO

Estimated monthly cost
$3,273/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 56,088 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,262 39%
Federal tax $545 17%
Healthcare $480 15%
Groceries $359 11%
Transport $250 8%
State tax $159 5%
Energy $158 5%
Water $60 2%

Rent in La Plata County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,201
per month
1 bedroom
$1,262
per month
2 bedroom
$1,589
per month
3 bedroom
$1,957
per month
4 bedroom
$2,542
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in La Plata County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$85,296
per year
Individual earnings
$43,388
per year
Per capita
$45,717
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in La Plata County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$549,100
Annual property tax
$1,452

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in La Plata County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$106
per month · 15.2¢/kWh
Natural gas
$52
per month
Annual total
$1,896
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in La Plata County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
9.5%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in La Plata County

State and local tax rates for Colorado.

State income tax
4.4%
Flat rate
State sales tax
2.9%
Combined sales tax
7.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in La Plata County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.7 min
Drive alone
66.7%
Public transit
0.4%
Work from home
17.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for La Plata County

What it costs to live in La Plata County each month.

Single person
$3,273
per month
  • Rent $1,262
  • Energy $158
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $359
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $545
  • State tax $159
Couple
$5,037
per month
  • Rent $1,589
  • Energy $190
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $595
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,066
  • State tax $313
Family
$7,561
per month
  • Rent $1,957
  • Energy $237
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $903
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,066
  • State tax $313

Frequently asked questions about La Plata County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in La Plata County?

In La Plata County, CO, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,262 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,589 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,957 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in La Plata County?

In La Plata County, CO, the average household income is $85,296 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $43,388 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in La Plata County?

The estimated cost of living in La Plata County, CO is approximately $3,273 per month for a single person, $5,037 for a couple, $7,561 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in La Plata County?

The combined sales tax rate in La Plata County, CO is 7.77%, which includes the Colorado state rate of 2.90% plus an average local rate of 4.87%.

Is La Plata County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in La Plata County, CO would need approximately $3,273 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $85,296 per year ($7,108 per month). La Plata County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in La Plata County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in La Plata County, CO is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 9.5% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in La Plata County?

The average home value in La Plata County, CO is $549,100, with average annual property taxes of $1,452, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does La Plata County compare to other areas?

You can compare La Plata County, CO with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. La Plata County is in the Durango, CO metro area.

Other counties in Colorado

Browse the full list of counties in Colorado, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Colorado

Compare La Plata County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources