What is the cost of living in Wheat Ridge, CO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wheat Ridge has an overall cost of living index of 136, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Colorado, Wheat Ridge has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Colorado's index of 114.
The standard of living in Wheat Ridge ranks as #67 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Wheat Ridge ranks as the #44 most expensive place in the Centennial State.
For more reading on life in Wheat Ridge, check out:
Wheat Ridge Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wheat Ridge. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wheat Ridge is 108.
The Groceries index in Wheat Ridge is 109.
The Health index in Wheat Ridge is 205.
The Housing index in Wheat Ridge is 105.
The Transportation index in Wheat Ridge is 110.
The Utilities index in Wheat Ridge is 104.
| Living Expense | Wheat Ridge | Colorado | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 136 | 114 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 205 | 135 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 107 | 100 |
Wheat Ridge 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 Wheat Ridge Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wheat Ridge, 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 Wheat Ridge is $606,403.
The Median Rent in Wheat Ridge is $1,579.
The Median Income in Wheat Ridge is $90,564.
The Home Value To Income in Wheat Ridge is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wheat Ridge is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Wheat Ridge | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $606,403 | $541,842 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,579 | $1,761 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,564 | $95,470 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Wheat Ridge, CO Costs By Category
Detailed Wheat Ridge Services costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Wheat Ridge | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.19 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.09 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.45 | $45.56 |
Detailed Wheat Ridge Groceries costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Wheat Ridge | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.56 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.89 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.62 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.06 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.34 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.12 | $3.7 |
Detailed Wheat Ridge Health costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Wheat Ridge | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $110.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wheat Ridge Transportation costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Wheat Ridge | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.58 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $73.58 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wheat Ridge Utilities costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Wheat Ridge | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.0 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.56 | $192.25 |
Wheat Ridge SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wheat Ridge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wheat Ridge. 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, 1.0x Wheat Ridge.
Lakewood, CO has a cost of living index of 136, 1.0x Wheat Ridge.
Arvada, CO has a cost of living index of 139, 1.0x Wheat Ridge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wheat Ridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 718,877 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Lakewood, CO | 156,583 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Arvada, CO | 122,634 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Northglenn, CO | 38,014 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Englewood, CO | 34,129 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Golden, CO | 20,417 | 154 | 1.1x |
| Sherrelwood, CO | 18,692 | 123 | 0.9x |
| Welby, CO | 16,197 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Federal Heights, CO | 14,125 | 94 | 0.7x |
| Berkley, CO | 10,789 | 125 | 0.9x |
