What is the cost of living in Denver, CO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Denver has an overall cost of living index of 142, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Colorado, Denver has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Colorado's index of 114.
The standard of living in Denver ranks as #78 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Denver ranks as the #33 most expensive place in the Centennial State.
For more reading on life in Denver, check out:
Denver Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Denver. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Denver is 108.
The Groceries index in Denver is 107.
The Health index in Denver is 214.
The Housing index in Denver is 113.
The Transportation index in Denver is 110.
The Utilities index in Denver is 111.
| Living Expense | Denver | Colorado | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 142 | 114 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 214 | 135 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 107 | 100 |
Denver 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 Denver Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Denver, 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 Denver is $539,666.
The Median Rent in Denver is $1,831.
The Median Income in Denver is $94,718.
The Home Value To Income in Denver is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Denver is 0.23x.
Denver, CO Costs By Category
Detailed Denver Services costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Denver Groceries costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Denver Health costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Denver Transportation costs vs. Colorado
Denver SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Denver
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Denver. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Aurora, CO has a cost of living index of 127, 0.9x Denver.
Brighton, CO has a cost of living index of 125, 0.9x Denver.
Englewood, CO has a cost of living index of 130, 0.9x Denver.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Denver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, CO | 394,432 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Brighton, CO | 42,059 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Englewood, CO | 34,129 | 130 | 0.9x |
| Sherrelwood, CO | 18,692 | 123 | 0.9x |
| Welby, CO | 16,197 | 116 | 0.8x |
| Federal Heights, CO | 14,125 | 94 | 0.7x |
| Berkley, CO | 10,789 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Derby, CO | 8,453 | 109 | 0.8x |
| Commerce, GA | 8,013 | 98 | 0.7x |
| Sheridan, CO | 6,005 | 115 | 0.8x |
