What is the cost of living in Boulder, CO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Boulder has an overall cost of living index of 176, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Colorado, Boulder has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Colorado's index of 114.
The standard of living in Boulder ranks as #108 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Boulder ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Centennial State.
For more reading on life in Boulder, check out:
Boulder Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Boulder. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Boulder is 106.
The Groceries index in Boulder is 105.
The Health index in Boulder is 332.
The Housing index in Boulder is 106.
The Transportation index in Boulder is 108.
The Utilities index in Boulder is 115.
| Living Expense | Boulder | Colorado | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 176 | 114 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 332 | 135 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 107 | 100 |
Boulder Cost Of Living Compared To Colorado Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Colorado, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Boulder Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Boulder, CO Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Colorado, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Boulder is $964,530.
The Median Rent in Boulder is $2,018.
The Median Income in Boulder is $87,493.
The Home Value To Income in Boulder is 11.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Boulder is 0.28x.
Boulder, CO Costs By Category
Detailed Boulder Services costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Boulder Groceries costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Boulder Health costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Boulder Transportation costs vs. Colorado
Boulder SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Boulder
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Boulder. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Westminster, CO has a cost of living index of 132, 0.8x Boulder.
Northglenn, CO has a cost of living index of 126, 0.7x Boulder.
Wheat Ridge, CO has a cost of living index of 136, 0.8x Boulder.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Boulder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster, CO | 115,484 | 132 | 0.8x |
| Northglenn, CO | 38,014 | 126 | 0.7x |
| Wheat Ridge, CO | 32,070 | 136 | 0.8x |
| Golden, CO | 20,417 | 154 | 0.9x |
| Sherrelwood, CO | 18,692 | 123 | 0.7x |
| Firestone, CO | 18,049 | 133 | 0.8x |
| Frederick, CO | 16,651 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Welby, CO | 16,197 | 116 | 0.7x |
| Federal Heights, CO | 14,125 | 94 | 0.5x |
| Berkley, CO | 10,789 | 125 | 0.7x |
