Cost of Living in Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs, CO — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Colorado Springs, CO to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Colorado Springs, CO?
With a price level of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), Colorado Springs, CO is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 16% 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 utilities.
Prices in Colorado Springs, CO vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Housing | 116.2 | +16.2% |
| Goods | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Utilities | 83.2 | −16.8% |
| Other services | 99.8 | −0.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Colorado Springs, CO
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,191 | $47,640/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,461 | $58,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,727 | $69,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,402 | $96,080/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,736 | $109,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs, CO | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,300 | $33,496 |
| $60,000 | $60,400 | $48,762 |
| $80,000 | $80,600 | $62,694 |
| $100,000 | $100,700 | $75,950 |
| $150,000 | $151,100 | $108,603 |
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 Colorado Springs, CO's median wage of $52,710 takes home about $3,577 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,461, which is 41% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,116 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO
- Federal income tax$4,145
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,268
- Medicare (1.45%)$764
- Colorado income tax$1,611
- Take-home pay$42,922
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in Colorado Springs, CO
*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.
Colorado Springs, CO vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 100.7 | $1,461 | $52,710 | 316,060 |
| Akron, OH | 93.4 | $985 | $48,840 | 319,560 |
| Wichita, KS | 88.9 | $848 | $47,630 | 308,570 |
| Oxnard, CA | 110.5 | $2,250 | $52,510 | 323,890 |
| Cape Coral, FL | 102.3 | $1,638 | $46,780 | 304,790 |
| Provo, UT | 98.2 | $1,265 | $48,010 | 304,660 |
| Syracuse, NY | 95.7 | $1,123 | $52,990 | 300,130 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Colorado Springs, CO expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area are 100.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 116.2%. It is the #76 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Colorado Springs, CO?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,424 in Colorado Springs, CO (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $52,710.
Can you afford Colorado Springs, CO on the median wage?
A single worker on the $52,710 median wage takes home about $3,577 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,461 would take 41% of that.
How much is rent in Colorado Springs, CO?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Colorado Springs, CO are $1,191 for a studio, $1,461 for one bedroom, $1,727 for two bedrooms and $2,402 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Colorado Springs, CO
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $120,770
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $111,740
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $94,450
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $90,210
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,000
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $134,280
- Computer Network Architect — $130,980
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,930
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,710
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,140
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $34,840
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $96,140
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $46,120
- Medical Assistant — $45,730
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,530
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,390
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,000
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,420
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $43,480
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $37,500
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $75,830
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $53,690
- Retail Salesperson — $36,060
- Cashier — $35,740
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $70,150
- Office Clerks, General — $49,860
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,010
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,840
- Customer Service Representative — $46,120
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,690
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $41,440
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,080