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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 $60K salary, 2 cities (18%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 11 cities in Colorado using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Pueblo comes …
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 2 cities (18%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. 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.
The #1 spot goes to Pueblo, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,316/month — saving renters $6,948 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 77, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
On a $60K salary, the key number is $1,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Pueblo ($1,316/mo, 26%), Greeley ($1,442/mo, 29%), Colorado Springs ($1,667/mo, 33%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $44,517 to $44,517/year across these top picks.
Put it this way: Bottom line: Pueblo leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. That tracks. 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. Quietly competitive.
#1 Ranked: Pueblo — cost index 77, rent $1,316/mo, income $55,305
2 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K
2 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
111,077 residents · Colorado
Real talk: Dive into Pueblo's numbers: cost index 77 (34 points below national average), rent $1,316/month, income $55,305, and a home price of $283,780. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 77, while Healthcare runs 95. With 111,077 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
112,609 residents · Colorado
What does daily life actually cost in Greeley? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 84) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 97) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $68,650 and homes at $418,757 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
488,664 residents · Colorado
The numbers for Colorado Springs are straightforward: 97 on the cost index, $1,667/month rent, $83,198 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
177,563 residents · Colorado
Dive into Aurora's numbers: cost index 99 (12 points below national average), rent $1,689/month, income $84,320, and a home price of $458,953. And generally speaking, that's about what we'd expect given the state context. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 99, while Healthcare runs 100. With 177,563 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
155,961 residents · Colorado
Why Lakewood ranks #5: the numbers tell a clear story. That alone makes it worth considering. At 101 on the cost index, residents save roughly 10% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,733/month while the median household pulls in $85,789/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 100, though Housing (101) lags behind. Home prices average $565,592 — $98,222 above the national median.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 2 cities (18%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
Pueblo (index 77) and Centennial (index 120) sit 43 points apart on the cost index — proof that Colorado is far from monolithic in affordability.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | $1,316 | 26% | 77 | Details |
| 2 | Greeley | $1,442 | 29% | 84 | Details |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $1,667 | 33% | 97 | Details |
| 4 | Aurora | $1,689 | 34% | 99 | Details |
| 5 | Lakewood | $1,733 | 35% | 101 | Details |
| 6 | Westminster | $1,788 | 36% | 104 | Details |
| 7 | Denver | $1,818 | 36% | 106 | Details |
| 8 | Thornton | $1,888 | 38% | 110 | Details |
| 9 | Fort Collins | $1,970 | 39% | 115 | Details |
| 10 | Arvada | $2,053 | 41% | 120 | Details |
| 11 | Centennial | $2,056 | 41% | 120 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pueblo | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
2Greeley | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
3Colorado Springs | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
4Aurora | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
5Lakewood | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
6Westminster | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
7Denver | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
8Thornton | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
9Fort Collins | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
10Arvada | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $44,517 |
Pueblo ranks #1 in Colorado for this analysis with a cost index of 77 and median income of $55,305.
Yes. On a $60K salary in Pueblo, rent would consume about 26% 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 $60K in Pueblo is approximately $44,517/year ($3,710/month). After median rent of $1,316/month, you'd have roughly $28,725/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.