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State cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Cost of Living in Colorado

Statewide Regional Price Parities for Colorado from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100, across 7 metro areas.

103.1
Statewide RPP
#13
of 51 states by cost
127.4
Rents RPP
7
Metro areas

The verdict

Colorado is more expensive than 75% of U.S. states, a statewide cost index of 103.1, 3.1% above the national average.

103.1
statewide cost index (US average = 100)
#13
of 51 states by overall cost
top 25%
nationally, among all states
127.4
rents RPP, the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $97,038 when earned in Colorado.

Reading the Colorado Cost of Living Picture

The Bureau of Economic Analysis places Colorado's statewide Regional Price Parity at 103.1 for the 2024 data year, 3.1% more expensive the U.S. baseline of 100. Inside the headline figure, the state's rents line runs hottest at 127.4, while services offer the biggest relief at 85.0. That internal spread, rather than the single state number, is what determines whether a household actually feels priced in or priced out.

Colorado captures 7 metro areas in the BEA dataset, and the range across them is meaningful. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO leads on cost at 105.8, while Pueblo, CO sits at the opposite end at 91.8 - a gap of 14.0 index points inside a single state. For goods the state indexes at 98.7, for services 85.0, and for rents 127.4 - the rent figure tends to be the most volatile input and deserves its own line-item review before any relocation decision.

Over time, Colorado's statewide index has held steady within 0.3 points, suggesting a stable competitive position against other states. Practically, this means a $100,000 national salary delivers the purchasing power of about $97,038 of national buying power when earned inside Colorado, and a household relocating here would need roughly $103,052 to reproduce a $100K lifestyle. Pair these numbers with metro-specific wage data and rent tables before treating the statewide figure as your planning assumption.

103.1
Overall
98.7
Goods
85.0
Services
127.4
Rents

Colorado vs every U.S. state

Where this state sits in the national cost distribution

103 Top 25% higher than 75% of 51 US states

84–87: 2 US states (4%). Below this entry. 87–90: 7 US states (14%). Below this entry. 90–93: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 93–96: 6 US states (12%). Below this entry. 96–99: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 99–102: 5 US states (10%). Below this entry. 102–105: 8 US states (16%). This entry sits in this band. 105–108: 3 US states (6%). Above this entry. 108–111: 4 US states (8%). Above this entry. 111–114: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. 114–117: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. This state 84 117 every US state (incl. DC), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities · 2024

Most Expensive in Colorado → Cheapest in Colorado →

Metro areas in Colorado, ranked by cost

# Metro area OverallGoodsServicesRents
1 Denver-Aurora-Centennial 105.8 101.0 87.9 146.9
2 Boulder 105.2 96.1 82.7 157.0
3 Fort Collins-Loveland 101.1 96.1 82.2 120.6
4 Colorado Springs 100.7 96.1 83.2 116.2
5 Greeley 100.2 96.1 82.0 112.6
6 Grand Junction 95.5 96.1 83.3 86.4
7 Pueblo 91.8 96.1 81.9 71.3

The Rents RPP index measures housing costs relative to the national average (100). For the federal 40th-percentile Fair Market Rent by bedroom size and county, see the HUD Fair Market Rents dataset.

RPP History

Year Overall
2008 103.3
2009 102.4
2010 100.6
2011 103.4
2012 103.1
2013 103.1
2014 103.1
2015 103.0
2016 102.7
2017 102.9
2018 100.3
2019 102.5
2020 103.8
2021 102.8
2022 102.3
2023 101.9
2024 103.1

What this means in Colorado

The statewide index is a starting point, cost varies metro to metro within Colorado.

  • Don't rely on the state figure alone: Denver-Aurora-Centennial (105.8) and Pueblo (91.8) sit 14 index points apart inside Colorado. Check your specific metro.
  • Rents index at 127.4 (27.4% above average) - the largest swing in the RPP. Review the housing line before any relocation decision. Highest rents
  • Weighing Colorado against another state? Convert your salary to local purchasing power first. Salary calculator

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark (national average = 100) for the data year shown, pair it with local wages and current rents before deciding.

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
Cost of Living vs Wages
Where your dollar goes furthest
Understanding Regional Price Parities
How BEA constructs RPP data

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Colorado? ▼
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 103.1, meaning it is 3.1% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 98.7, services at 85.0, and rents at 127.4.
What salary in Colorado equals $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $103,052 in Colorado. Conversely, $100K earned in Colorado has the purchasing power of $97,038 at the national average.
Is housing expensive in Colorado? ▼
Rents in Colorado are indexed at 127.4, which is 27.4% above the national average. Housing costs are significantly higher than typical U.S. levels.
Which is the most expensive metro in Colorado? ▼
The most expensive metro area in Colorado is Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO with an RPP of 105.8. The most affordable is Pueblo, CO at 91.8. There are 7 metro areas in Colorado with BEA price data.
Is Colorado getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Colorado's overall cost index changed by -0.3 points (from 103.3 to 103.1). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What is most expensive in Colorado compared to the U.S. average? ▼
The most expensive category in Colorado is rents at 127.4, which is 27.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 85.0, 15.0% below average.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Index where national average = 100

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Every figure on PlainCost is rendered directly from BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.