Sterling, CO Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Sterling, CO Summary

Cost of living in Sterling research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Sterling is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Colorado, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 94, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Sterling ranks as the #5 cheapest in Colorado out of 113.

  • Sterling ranks as the #1,806 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $245,507.

  • The median income in Sterling is $44,242.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
94
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sterling, CO?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sterling has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Colorado, Sterling has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Colorado's index of 111.

The standard of living in Sterling ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Sterling ranks as the #108 most expensive place in the Centennial State.

For more reading on life in Sterling, check out:

5 out of 113
In Colorado
1,806 out of 6,489
In America

Sterling Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sterling. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Sterling is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Sterling is 104.

  • The Health index in Sterling is 104.

  • The Housing index in Sterling is 81.

  • The Transportation index in Sterling is 99.

  • The Utilities index in Sterling is 85.

Living Expense Sterling Colorado National Average
Overall 94 111 100
Services 101 102 100
Groceries 104 103 100
Health 104 101 100
Housing 81 134 100
Transportation 99 107 100
Utilities 85 89 100
For more reading on cost of living around Colorado, check out:
Sterling Cost of Living Vs. CO

Sterling, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Sterling is $245,507.

  • The Median Rent in Sterling is $1,052.

  • The Median Income in Sterling is $44,242.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sterling is 5.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sterling is 0.29x.

Statistic Sterling Colorado United States
Median Home Value $245,507 $540,183 $303,400
Median Rent $1,052 $1,693 $1,348
Median Income $44,242 $92,470 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.5x 5.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.29x 0.22x 0.21x
$245,507
Median Home Value
$1,052
Median Rent
$44,242
Median Income

Sterling, CO Costs By Category

Detailed Sterling Services Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Sterling Colorado
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $10.98 $12.13
Bowling $15.17 $18
Haircut $28.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $33.98 $45.56

Detailed Sterling Groceries Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Sterling Colorado
Ground Beef $5.98 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.67 $4.67
Potatoes $4.44 $4.93
Pizza $12.23 $12.09
Beer $10.49 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.63 $3.7

Detailed Sterling Health Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Sterling Colorado
Optometrist $191.47 $125.68
Doctor $140.63 $135.78
Dentist $107.16 $113.29

Detailed Sterling Transportation Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Sterling Colorado
Gasoline $3.32 $3.46
Tire Balancing $59.3 $59.92

Detailed Sterling Utilities Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Sterling Colorado
All Electricity $154.32 $193.99
Phone $187.74 $192.25

Sterling SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
6
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sterling

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sterling. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Fort Morgan, CO has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Sterling.

  • Sidney, NE has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Sterling.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sterling
Fort Morgan, CO 11,521 97 1.0x
Sidney, NE 6,396 87 0.9x

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