What is the cost of living in Golden, CO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Golden has an overall cost of living index of 154, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Colorado, Golden has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Colorado's index of 114.
The standard of living in Golden ranks as #92 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Golden ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Centennial State.
For more reading on life in Golden, check out:
Golden Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Golden. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Golden is 105.
The Groceries index in Golden is 111.
The Health index in Golden is 253.
The Housing index in Golden is 107.
The Transportation index in Golden is 112.
The Utilities index in Golden is 110.
| Living Expense | Golden | Colorado | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 154 | 114 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 253 | 135 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 107 | 100 |
Golden 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 Golden Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Golden, 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 Golden is $863,814.
The Median Rent in Golden is $1,953.
The Median Income in Golden is $98,582.
The Home Value To Income in Golden is 8.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Golden is 0.24x.
Golden, CO Costs By Category
Detailed Golden Services costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Golden Groceries costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Golden Health costs vs. Colorado
Detailed Golden Transportation costs vs. Colorado
Golden SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Golden
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Golden. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 142, 0.9x Golden.
Lakewood, CO has a cost of living index of 136, 0.9x Golden.
Arvada, CO has a cost of living index of 139, 0.9x Golden.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Golden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 718,877 | 142 | 0.9x |
| Lakewood, CO | 156,583 | 136 | 0.9x |
| Arvada, CO | 122,634 | 139 | 0.9x |
| Northglenn, CO | 38,014 | 126 | 0.8x |
| Englewood, CO | 34,129 | 130 | 0.8x |
| Wheat Ridge, CO | 32,070 | 136 | 0.9x |
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 0.7x |
| Sherrelwood, CO | 18,692 | 123 | 0.8x |
| Welby, CO | 16,197 | 116 | 0.8x |
| Federal Heights, CO | 14,125 | 94 | 0.6x |
