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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while Colorado trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Pueblo at index 77 — for better or worse — is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Colorado (and that gap widens i…
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | $1,316 | 11% | 77 | Details |
| 2 | Greeley | $1,442 | 12% | 84 | Details |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $1,667 | 13% | 97 | Details |
| 4 | Aurora | $1,689 | 14% | 99 | Details |
| 5 | Lakewood | $1,733 | 14% | 101 | Details |
| 6 | Westminster | $1,788 | 14% | 104 | Details |
| 7 | Denver | $1,818 | 15% | 106 | Details |
| 8 | Thornton | $1,888 | 15% | 110 | Details |
| 9 | Fort Collins | $1,970 | 16% | 115 | Details |
| 10 | Arvada | $2,053 | 16% | 120 | Details |
| 11 | Centennial | $2,056 | 16% | 120 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Pueblo — cost index 77, rent $1,316/mo, income $55,305
11 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Premium market, smart picks: while Colorado trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Pueblo at index 77 — for better or worse — is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Colorado (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Here's Pueblo by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 77. Rent: $1,316/month. Income: $55,305/year. Home price: $283,780. Population: 111,077. The strongest category is Housing at 77; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,948 per year vs. the national median. This is the type of edge you don't see advertised.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Pueblo ($1,316/mo, 11%), Greeley ($1,442/mo, 12%), Colorado Springs ($1,667/mo, 13%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $102,883 to $102,883/year across these top picks.
The other side of the coin: State context matters: Colorado's 11 cities average a 103 cost index with $1,765/month — for better or worse — median rent and $90,112 household income. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Outdoor lifestyle with a rising price tag. The full picture emerges in the city spotlights below (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pueblo | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
2Greeley | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
3Colorado Springs | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
4Aurora | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
5Lakewood | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
6Westminster | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
7Denver | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
8Thornton | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
9Fort Collins | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
10Arvada | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $102,883 |
111,077 residents · Colorado
Why Pueblo ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 77 on the cost index, residents save roughly 34% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,316/month while the median household pulls in $55,305/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 77, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $283,780 — $183,590 below the national median.
112,609 residents · Colorado
Greeley earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And for many people, the 84 cost index sits 27 points below the national baseline, and the $68,650 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $418,757 — $48,613 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 97.
488,664 residents · Colorado
The way we see it, a closer look at Colorado Springs: the cost index of 97 breaks down to a Housing index of 97 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (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 (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
177,563 residents · Colorado
Why Aurora ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. You get the picture. At 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 12% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,689/month while the median household pulls in $84,320/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 99, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $458,953 — $8,417 below the national median.
155,961 residents · Colorado
Lakewood earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 101 cost index sits 10 points below the national baseline, and the $85,789 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $565,592 — $98,222 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 100, while Housing trails at 101.
We model what a $150K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 77 and median income of $55,305.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Pueblo, rent would consume about 11% 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 77 and rent of $1,316/mo, while Centennial (ranked #11) has a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,056/mo — a 43-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 $150K in Pueblo is approximately $102,883/year ($8,574/month). After median rent of $1,316/month, you'd have roughly $87,091/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.