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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Denver breaks the usual trade-off between income and cost of living. Most affordable cities pay less — but Denver delivers a median household income of $91,681 (14% above the national median) while keeping costs 5 points below national average. That's a rare combination shared by only 40 of the 288 …
Denver breaks the usual trade-off between income and cost of living. Most affordable cities pay less — but Denver delivers a median household income of $91,681 (14% above the national median) while keeping costs 5 points below national average. That's a rare combination shared by only 40 of the 288 cities we track.
What does daily life actually cost in Denver? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Healthcare (index 101) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 106) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $91,681 and homes at $530,920 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Denver (index 106 — though some people might weigh that differently — , rent $1,818); Colorado Springs (index 97, rent $1,667). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
The numbers are clear. The implications are even clearer: Denver: high income, low cost — a rare combo. Denver earns above the national median ($91,681 vs $80,367) while keeping costs below average (index 106 vs 111). That combination is exceptionally rare — only 40 of 288 cities share it. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
Still, the overall picture holds: For context: the typical American city has a cost index of 111, pays $1,895/month in rent, and earns $80,367 per household. The top-ranked cities here tell a dramatically different story — one that's worth exploring city by city.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Denver, CO — cost index 106, rent $1,818/mo, income $91,681
Denver: high income, low cost — a rare combo
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DenverCO | 106 | $1,818 | Details |
| 2 | Colorado SpringsCO | 97 | $1,667 | Details |
716,577 residents · Colorado
The #1 spot goes to Denver, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,818/month — saving renters $924 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 101, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 106. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
488,664 residents · Colorado
What does daily life actually cost in Colorado Springs? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. And in practical terms, on the category level, Housing (index 97) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 99) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $83,198 and homes at $446,132 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
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.
Denver (ranked #1) has a cost index of 106 and rent of $1,818/mo, while Colorado Springs (ranked #2) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,667/mo — a 9-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 Denver is $1,818/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $77 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Denver is $530,920, which is 5.8× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
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.