Overall
105.2
+5.2 above avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Boulder, CO
Cost-of-living indicators for Boulder, CO, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 14500 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #29 of 387
Boulder, CO has a cost of living index of 105.2, meaning it's 5.2% more expensive than the national average. Goods cost 3.9% less, services 17.3% less, and rents are 57.0% above average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $95,055 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Boulder
Boulder ranks #29 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 105.2, Boulder, CO is 5.2% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Boulder's most and least expensive categories — rents at 157.0 versus services at 82.7 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $95,055 inside Boulder, while a household needs roughly $105,202 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 157.0 — 57.0% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Boulder's overall index has fallen by 3.3 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.1 and services at 82.7, meaning everyday spending in Boulder is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Boulder Cost Index at a Glance
Boulder all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Boulder category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.1
-3.9 below avg
Services
82.7
-17.3 below avg
Rents
157.0
+57.0 above avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 105.2 (+5.2 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 96.1 (-3.9 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 82.7 (-17.3 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 157.0 (+57.0 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Rents +57.0% (157.0)
Overall +5.2% (105.2)
Below National Average
Services -17.3% (82.7)
Goods -3.9% (96.1)
Income Adequacy in Boulder
Boulder income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 105.2
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$105,202
in Boulder, CO purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$52,601
$75,000 nationally
$78,902
$125,000 nationally
$131,503
$150,000 nationally
$157,803
$200,000 nationally
$210,404
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.3 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.5 |
| 2009 | 105.6 |
| 2010 | 104.5 |
| 2011 | 107.1 |
| 2012 | 107.5 |
| 2013 | 105.8 |
| 2014 | 106.3 |
| 2015 | 106.8 |
| 2016 | 105.6 |
| 2017 | 105.3 |
| 2018 | 101.7 |
| 2019 | 105.5 |
| 2020 | 101.7 |
| 2021 | 100.9 |
| 2022 | 99.9 |
| 2023 | 100.6 |
| 2024 | 105.2 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Boulder, CO's index of 105.2.
Other CO Metros
Related Data for Boulder
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Boulder area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Boulder metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Boulder
School Districts
NCES school data for Boulder area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Boulder area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Boulder, CO? ▼
Boulder, CO has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 105.2, meaning it is 5.2% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.1, services at 82.7, and rents at 157.0. It ranks #29 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Boulder, CO to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $105,202 in Boulder, CO. Conversely, $100K earned in Boulder, CO has the purchasing power of $95,055 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Boulder, CO? ▼
Rents in Boulder, CO are indexed at 157.0, which is 57.0% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Boulder, CO getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Boulder, CO's overall cost index changed by -3.3 points (from 108.5 to 105.2). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Boulder, CO? ▼
The most expensive category in Boulder, CO is rents at 157.0, which is 57.0% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 82.7, 17.3% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Boulder, CO? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Stockton-Lodi, Anchorage, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Boulder, CO's 105.2.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
