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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in Colorado — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Pueblo (index 94, rent $1,316/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 11 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in Colorado — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Pueblo (index 94, rent $1,316/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 11 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
The numbers for Pueblo are straightforward: 94 on the cost index, $1,316/month rent, $55,305 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's more or less in line with the region.
And there's one more thing: Colorado — outdoor lifestyle with a rising price tag. The 11 cities we track here average a cost index of 111 and median income of $90,112. It lands right near the national baseline, which makes the differences between individual cities all the more important. The typical rent runs $1,765/month, which is $130 less than the national median.
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. Can we talk about how broken the conversation around affordability is? A city gets labeled 'cheap' and suddenly everyone assumes there's a catch — bad schools, no jobs, nothing to do. But look at the income numbers here. Look at the cost categories. This isn't a budget consolation prize. It's a genuine alternative to the coastal rat race, and the data makes that case more convincingly than any think piece (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
#1 Ranked: Pueblo — cost index 94, rent $1,316/mo, income $55,305
0 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
111,077 residents · Colorado
A closer look at Pueblo: the cost index of 94 breaks down to a Housing index of 85 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 97 (weakest). Median rent is $1,316/month — 31% below the national median — while household income sits at $55,305, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room (that's pre-tax, of course).
112,609 residents · Colorado
At $1,442/month for rent and a cost index of 102, Greeley is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $68,650. That's more or less in line with the region.
488,664 residents · Colorado
Colorado Springs comes in at #3. And most of the time, rent is $1,667 a month. Household income is $83,198. The cost of living index is 107. That tracks.
177,563 residents · Colorado
At $1,689/month for rent and a cost index of 108, Aurora is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. That alone makes it worth considering. Income is $84,320. That alone makes it worth considering (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
155,961 residents · Colorado
Here's Lakewood by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. And for many people, cost index: 114. Rent: $1,733/month. Income: $85,789/year. Home price: $565,592. Population: 155,961. The strongest category is Utilities at 104; the most expensive is Housing at 134. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $1,944 per year vs. the national median. On a fixed income, this is the metric that matters most.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | $1,316 | 32% | 94 | Details |
| 2 | Greeley | $1,442 | 35% | 102 | Details |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $1,667 | 40% | 107 | Details |
| 4 | Aurora | $1,689 | 41% | 108 | Details |
| 5 | Lakewood | $1,733 | 42% | 114 | Details |
| 6 | Westminster | $1,788 | 43% | 112 | Details |
| 7 | Denver | $1,818 | 44% | 113 | Details |
| 8 | Thornton | $1,888 | 45% | 113 | Details |
| 9 | Fort Collins | $1,970 | 47% | 117 | Details |
| 10 | Arvada | $2,053 | 49% | 121 | Details |
| 11 | Centennial | $2,056 | 49% | 122 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pueblo | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
2Greeley | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
3Colorado Springs | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
4Aurora | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
5Lakewood | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
6Westminster | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
7Denver | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
8Thornton | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
9Fort Collins | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
10Arvada | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $37,922 |
We calculate what percentage of a $50K 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 $50K salary in Pueblo, rent would consume about 32% 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 $50K in Pueblo is approximately $37,922/year ($3,160/month). After median rent of $1,316/month, you'd have roughly $22,130/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.