What is the cost of living in Highlands Ranch, CO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Highlands Ranch has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Colorado, Highlands Ranch has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Colorado's index of 114.
The standard of living in Highlands Ranch ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Highlands Ranch ranks as the #23 most expensive place in the Centennial State.
For more reading on life in Highlands Ranch, check out:
Highlands Ranch Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Highlands Ranch. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Highlands Ranch is 106.
The Groceries index in Highlands Ranch is 106.
The Health index in Highlands Ranch is 257.
The Housing index in Highlands Ranch is 111.
The Transportation index in Highlands Ranch is 108.
The Utilities index in Highlands Ranch is 105.
| Living Expense | Highlands Ranch | Colorado | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 114 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 257 | 135 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 107 | 100 |
Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch is $712,205.
The Median Rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,531.
The Median Income in Highlands Ranch is $159,307.
The Home Value To Income in Highlands Ranch is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Highlands Ranch is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Highlands Ranch | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $712,205 | $541,842 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,531 | $1,761 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $159,307 | $95,470 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Highlands Ranch, CO Costs By Category
Detailed Highlands Ranch Services costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Highlands Ranch | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.7 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.81 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $50.45 | $45.56 |
Detailed Highlands Ranch Groceries costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Highlands Ranch | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.87 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.67 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.7 | $3.7 |
Detailed Highlands Ranch Health costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Highlands Ranch | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $121.38 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $116.64 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $126.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Highlands Ranch Transportation costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Highlands Ranch | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.67 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Highlands Ranch Utilities costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Highlands Ranch | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $145.02 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.36 | $192.25 |
Highlands Ranch SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Highlands Ranch
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Highlands Ranch. 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 Highlands Ranch.
Aurora, CO has a cost of living index of 127, 0.8x Highlands Ranch.
Centennial, CO has a cost of living index of 145, 1.0x Highlands Ranch.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Highlands Ranch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 718,877 | 142 | 0.9x |
| Aurora, CO | 394,432 | 127 | 0.8x |
| Centennial, CO | 108,201 | 145 | 1.0x |
| Littleton, CO | 44,710 | 139 | 0.9x |
| Englewood, CO | 34,129 | 130 | 0.9x |
| Wheat Ridge, CO | 32,070 | 136 | 0.9x |
| Columbine, CO | 25,478 | 143 | 0.9x |
| Golden, CO | 20,417 | 154 | 1.0x |
| Lone Tree, CO | 14,147 | 170 | 1.1x |
| Berkley, CO | 10,789 | 125 | 0.8x |
