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Cost of living guide

Cost of Living in Colorado 2026

Published July 2026 · By LiveWhere

Colorado has climbed the cost rankings fast. Strong demand for its outdoor lifestyle has made it one of the more expensive states in the West. A single person spends about $2,337 a month in tiny Jackson County up north. In Douglas County, a well-off Denver suburb, that rises to about $4,367. The state average is about $3,173.

Colorado uses a flat income tax of 4.4%, so every earner pays the same rate. That is simpler than the graduated systems in states like California. Rent averages about $1,137 a month for a one-bedroom home, and the Denver metro drives most of the high end.

Mountain resort counties and the Denver suburbs sit at the top. The rural San Luis Valley in the south sits at the bottom. Rank all 64 counties in the table below, or compare any two with our comparison tool. Every figure comes from official government data. See our methodology for how we build each estimate.

Cheapest county
$2,337
Jackson County
State average
$3,173
per month
Avg. rent (1-bed)
$1,137
per month
Avg. income
$74,792
per year

All 64 counties in Colorado, ranked by cost

Cheapest first, by estimated single-person monthly cost. The "vs avg" column compares each county to the Colorado average.

Show all 64 counties

Monthly cost combines rent, utilities, groceries, transport, healthcare and taxes. See our methodology.

The 5 cheapest counties in Colorado

The most affordable places, in detail.

The 5 most expensive counties in Colorado

Where costs run highest.

#1. Douglas County

$4,367/mo

Douglas County, between Denver and Colorado Springs, is the priciest in the state. It is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, with the average household earning about $145,737 a year.

#2. Broomfield County

$4,218/mo

Broomfield County is a compact suburb in the Denver metro. Strong incomes, near $121,025 a year, come with high costs.

#3. Elbert County

$4,208/mo

Elbert County is a rural exurb on the eastern edge of the Denver metro. Larger homes and high incomes push costs near the top.

#4. Pitkin County

$4,130/mo

Pitkin County is home to Aspen, the famous mountain resort. Scarce land and resort demand drive the highest rent among these five, about $1,963 a month.

#5. Jefferson County

$4,102/mo

Jefferson County sits against the foothills west of Denver. A one-bedroom rent near $1,789 a month keeps its cost of living high.

The tax picture in Colorado

Income, sales and property taxes.

State income tax
4.40%
Flat rate

Colorado has a flat state income tax of 4.4%.

State sales tax
2.90%
Combined sales tax
7.77%
incl. average local of 4.87%

Property taxes in Colorado average about $1,560 a year across counties. They are among the lowest in the country, which helps offset rising home prices.

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions about Colorado

Common questions about cost of living, rent and taxes.

What is the cheapest place to live in Colorado?

Jackson County is the cheapest place to live in Colorado, at about $2,337 a month for a single person. A one-bedroom home there rents for about $711 a month. The figure covers rent, utilities, groceries, transport, healthcare and taxes.

What is the average cost of living in Colorado?

The average cost of living in Colorado is about $3,173 a month for a single person. Costs range from about $2,337 a month in Jackson County to about $4,367 a month in Douglas County.

Is Colorado an expensive state to live in?

The average monthly cost in Colorado is about $3,173, about 10% above the national average of $2,882 a month. Rapid growth around Denver and the mountain resorts has lifted Colorado into the higher tier of Western states.

What is the average rent in Colorado?

The average one-bedroom rent in Colorado is about $1,137 a month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data across all 64 counties. Rent ranges from about $711 to $1,963 a month.

Does Colorado have state income tax?

Yes. Colorado has a flat state income tax of 4.4%.

Explore more

Rankings

Cheapest places to live

The most affordable counties in America, ranked.
Tool

Compare two areas

Put any two counties side by side on cost, rent and taxes.
Tool

Salary calculator

See your take-home pay in Colorado.
State

All Colorado data

Rent, taxes and earnings across Colorado.

Use this research

Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to cite and share this analysis. Please include a follow link back to this page when referencing our data. For bespoke analysis, expert comment, or high-resolution graphics, get in touch via our press office.

About this data

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

  • U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates)
  • HUD Fair Market Rents
  • Energy Information Administration (EIA)
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
  • Tax Foundation state and local rates

LiveWhere presents data from official government sources. It does not provide financial, tax, or healthcare advice.

Methodology All data sources