Cost of Living in Boulder, CO
Boulder, CO — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Boulder, CO to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Boulder, CO?
With a price level of 105.2 (U.S. average = 100), Boulder, CO is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 57% above average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 17% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Boulder, CO vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Housing | 157.0 | +57.0% |
| Goods | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Utilities | 82.7 | −17.3% |
| Other services | 99.8 | −0.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Boulder, CO
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,553 | $62,120/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,795 | $71,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,124 | $84,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,820 | $112,800/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,239 | $129,560/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Boulder, CO
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Boulder, CO | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $42,100 | $34,863 |
| $60,000 | $63,100 | $50,813 |
| $80,000 | $84,200 | $65,068 |
| $100,000 | $105,200 | $78,918 |
| $150,000 | $157,800 | $112,888 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Colorado 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Boulder, CO's median wage of $69,580 takes home about $4,619 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,795, which is 39% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,824 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Boulder, CO
- Federal income tax$6,478
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,314
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,009
- Colorado income tax$2,353
- Take-home pay$55,426
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in Boulder, CO
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| General and Operations Manager | $152,100 | $109,242 | $103,841 |
| Project Management Specialist | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| Registered Nurse | $103,290 | $77,658 | $73,818 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $99,990 | $75,482 | $71,749 |
| Accountant and Auditor | $99,990 | $75,482 | $71,749 |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $97,600 | $73,906 | $70,251 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $94,040 | $71,558 | $68,019 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $49,870 | $40,765 | $38,749 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,700 | $32,281 | $30,685 |
| Cashier | $38,520 | $32,144 | $30,555 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $36,190 | $30,375 | $28,873 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Colorado cities
Half of Colorado’s 2,873,900 workers earn less than $59,800 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $43,680–$93,220 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Boulder, CO stretches a paycheck furthest, while Grand Junction, CO is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | $62,320 | 105.8 | $1,754 | 42% | $2,431 | $47,475 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $52,710 | 100.7 | $1,461 | 41% | $2,116 | $42,620 |
| Boulder, CO | $69,580 | 105.2 | $1,795 | 39% | $2,824 | $52,686 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $55,310 | 101.1 | $1,537 | 41% | $2,204 | $44,396 |
| Greeley, CO | $55,070 | 100.2 | $1,238 | 33% | $2,488 | $44,636 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $48,510 | 95.5 | $986 | 30% | $2,325 | $41,614 |
| Pueblo, CO | $48,940 | 91.8 | $967 | 29% | $2,371 | $43,655 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Boulder, CO vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 105.2 | $1,795 | $69,580 | 192,390 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 92.7 | $1,115 | $45,350 | 192,580 |
| Wilmington, NC | 96.4 | $1,380 | $45,800 | 191,280 |
| Pensacola, FL | 97.7 | $1,257 | $46,240 | 190,480 |
| Modesto, CA | 104.1 | $1,356 | $50,610 | 195,230 |
| Salem, OR | 103.6 | $1,201 | $55,310 | 188,620 |
| Salinas, CA | 109.0 | $2,232 | $47,380 | 186,430 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Boulder, CO expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Boulder, CO metro area are 105.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 157.0%. It is the #29 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Boulder, CO?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $63,121 in Boulder, CO (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $69,580.
Can you afford Boulder, CO on the median wage?
A single worker on the $69,580 median wage takes home about $4,619 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,795 would take 39% of that.
How much is rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Boulder, CO are $1,553 for a studio, $1,795 for one bedroom, $2,124 for two bedrooms and $2,820 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Boulder, CO
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $152,100
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $122,040
- Accountant and Auditor — $99,990
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $97,600
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $94,040
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $164,560
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $103,290
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $99,990
- Retail Salesperson — $38,700
- Cashier — $38,520