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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 11 cities in Colorado using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Pueblo…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 11 cities in Colorado using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Pueblo comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Let's cut to what actually matters here. 7 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
At $1,316/month for rent and a cost index of 94, Pueblo is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $55,305. That's more or less in line with the region.
On a $75K salary, the key number is $1,875/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Pueblo ($1,316/mo, 21%), Greeley ($1,442/mo, 23%), Colorado Springs ($1,667/mo, 27%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $54,410 to $54,410/year across these top picks.
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.
#1 Ranked: Pueblo — cost index 94, rent $1,316/mo, income $55,305
7 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
7 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K 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 | 21% | 94 | Details |
| 2 | Greeley | $1,442 | 23% | 102 | Details |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $1,667 | 27% | 107 | Details |
| 4 | Aurora | $1,689 | 27% | 108 | Details |
| 5 | Lakewood | $1,733 | 28% | 114 | Details |
| 6 | Westminster | $1,788 | 29% | 112 | Details |
| 7 | Denver | $1,818 | 29% | 113 | Details |
| 8 | Thornton | $1,888 | 30% | 113 | Details |
| 9 | Fort Collins | $1,970 | 32% | 117 | Details |
| 10 | Arvada | $2,053 | 33% | 121 | Details |
| 11 | Centennial | $2,056 | 33% | 122 | Details |
111,077 residents · Colorado
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.
112,609 residents · Colorado
Dive into Greeley's numbers: cost index 102 (10 points below national average), rent $1,442/month, income $68,650, and a home price of $418,757. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 94, while Housing runs 106. With 112,609 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
488,664 residents · Colorado
A closer look at Colorado Springs: the cost index of 107 breaks down to a Utilities index of 98 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 118 (weakest). Median rent is $1,667/month — 12% below the national median — while household income sits at $83,198, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
177,563 residents · Colorado
The #4 spot goes to Aurora, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,689/month — saving renters $2,472 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 99, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 120. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
155,961 residents · Colorado
Lakewood earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 114 cost index sits 2 points above the national baseline, and the $85,789 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $565,592 — $98,222 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 104, while Housing trails at 134.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pueblo | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
2Greeley | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
3Colorado Springs | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
4Aurora | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
5Lakewood | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
6Westminster | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
7Denver | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
8Thornton | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
9Fort Collins | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
10Arvada | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
We calculate what percentage of a $75K 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 $75K salary in Pueblo, rent would consume about 21% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
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 $75K in Pueblo is approximately $54,410/year ($4,534/month). After median rent of $1,316/month, you'd have roughly $38,618/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.