Colorado Housing & Living Wage Index

Colorado Cost of Living & Rents (2026)

Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, and composite living cost indices across all 8 benchmark metropolitan areas in Colorado.

Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget · Methodology

Composite COL Index 116.4 US Benchmark = 100.0
Average 1BR Rent $1,399 HUD Fair Market Rent
Single Living Wage $25.75/hr EPI Living Wage Standard
Family Living Wage $24.71/hr 2 Adults + 1 Child

Metropolitan Areas in Colorado

Metro AreaCOL IndexHUD 1BR RentHUD 2BR RentLiving WageReport
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 137.1 $1,831/mo $2,169/mo $30.32/hr View
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO 129.4 $1,589/mo $1,759/mo $28.62/hr View
Boulder, CO 129.3 $1,735/mo $2,033/mo $28.59/hr View
Greeley, CO 114.5 $1,307/mo $1,647/mo $25.32/hr View
Colorado Springs, CO 114.1 $1,380/mo $1,621/mo $25.22/hr View
Teller County, CO 110.9 $1,354/mo $1,474/mo $24.52/hr View
Grand Junction, CO 99.3 $1,017/mo $1,282/mo $21.96/hr View
Pueblo, CO 97.0 $978/mo $1,263/mo $21.44/hr View
Tax & Take-Home Pay

Colorado Paycheck Calculator

Calculate net after-tax pay with statutory Colorado tax withholdings.

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Wages & Earnings

Colorado Salary Directory

Explore BLS wage percentiles by occupation in Colorado.

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Colorado Cost of Living & Rents (2026) Overview

Comprehensive 2026 cost of living analysis for Colorado. Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, state income tax impact, and metropolitan living costs. Official 2026 economic data for Colorado compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
Is Colorado an expensive state to live in?

Its metros average a cost-of-living index of 116.4 (U.S. = 100), from EPI family budgets. Average one-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent across its metros is about $1,399 a month.

What is the living wage in Colorado?

The average living wage for a single adult in Colorado is approximately $25.75/hour, while a family with two adults and one child requires roughly $24.71/hour to cover basic necessities.