Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: Colorado isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Pueblo proves it with a cost index of 94, the lowest in Colorado, and we've ranked all 11 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
#1 Ranked: Pueblo — cost index 94, rent $1,316/mo, income $55,305
0 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | $1,316 | 53% | 94 | Details |
| 2 | Greeley | $1,442 | 58% | 102 | Details |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $1,667 | 67% | 107 | Details |
| 4 | Aurora | $1,689 | 68% | 108 | Details |
| 5 | Lakewood | $1,733 | 69% | 114 | Details |
| 6 | Westminster | $1,788 | 72% | 112 | Details |
| 7 | Denver | $1,818 | 73% | 113 | Details |
| 8 | Thornton | $1,888 | 76% | 113 | Details |
| 9 | Fort Collins | $1,970 | 79% | 117 | Details |
| 10 | Arvada | $2,053 | 82% | 121 | Details |
| 11 | Centennial | $2,056 | 82% | 122 | Details |
Let's be honest: Colorado isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Pueblo proves it with a cost index of 94, the lowest in Colorado, and we've ranked all 11 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
What does daily life actually cost in Pueblo? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 85) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 97) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $55,305 and homes at $283,780 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Bottom line: Pueblo leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
111,077 residents · Colorado
Pueblo earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And for the typical household, the 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $55,305 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $283,780 — $183,590 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 85, while Healthcare trails at 97.
112,609 residents · Colorado
A closer look at Greeley: the cost index of 102 breaks down to a Utilities index of 94 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 106 (weakest). Median rent is $1,442/month — 24% below the national median — while household income sits at $68,650, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
488,664 residents · Colorado
Colorado Springs earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And more often than not, that's more or less in line with the region. The 107 cost index sits 5 points below the national baseline, and the $83,198 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $446,132 — $21,238 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 98, while Housing trails at 118.
177,563 residents · Colorado
What does daily life actually cost in Aurora? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 99) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 120) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $84,320 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — and homes at $458,953 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
155,961 residents · Colorado
What does daily life actually cost in Lakewood? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. And in most cases, on the category level, Utilities (index 104) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 134) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $85,789 and homes at $565,592 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons. The math checks out.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pueblo | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
2Greeley | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
3Colorado Springs | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
4Aurora | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
5Lakewood | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
6Westminster | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
7Denver | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
8Thornton | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
9Fort Collins | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
10Arvada | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $23,017 |
We calculate what percentage of a $30K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Pueblo ranks #1 in Colorado for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $55,305.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Pueblo, rent would consume about 53% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Pueblo (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,316/mo, while Centennial (ranked #11) has a cost index of 122 and rent of $2,056/mo — a 28-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Pueblo is $1,316/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $579 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.4% state income tax, estimated take-home on $30K in Pueblo is approximately $23,017/year ($1,918/month). After median rent of $1,316/month, you'd have roughly $7,225/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Pueblo is $283,780, which is 5.1× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Colorado has a 4.4% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.81%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.49%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.