Cost of Living in Boulder, CO
Boulder, CO — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
105.2
U.S. average = 100 · #29 of 387
Median wage
$69,580
all jobs · $4,619/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,795
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Boulder, CO to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
—
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.
Take-home pay in Boulder, CO
Your take-home pay
$55,426
per year · effective tax rate 20.3%
$4,619Monthly
$2,309Twice a month
$2,132Every 2 weeks
$26.65Hourly
- 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
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Boulder, CO
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $206,260
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $203,420
- Sales Manager — $200,970
- Marketing Manager — $199,570
- Financial Manager — $192,970
- Managers, All Other — $179,090
- General and Operations Manager — $152,100
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $138,150
- Construction Manager — $126,450
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $131,470
- Project Management Specialist — $122,040
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $108,080
- Accountant and Auditor — $99,990
- Compliance Officer — $98,350
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $97,600
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $94,040
- Human Resources Specialist — $86,200
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $83,480
- Personal Financial Advisor — $83,070
- Training and Development Specialist — $79,420
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $164,560
- Computer Network Architect — $156,360
- Information Security Analyst — $154,990
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $147,590
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $136,410
- Data Scientist — $134,040
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $109,790
- Computer User Support Specialist — $74,380
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Aerospace Engineer — $167,160
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $161,720
- Engineers, All Other — $137,530
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $132,230
- Electrical Engineer — $130,170
- Mechanical Engineer — $124,360
- Industrial Engineer — $117,160
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist — $121,870
- Chemist — $105,590
- Physicist — $104,580
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $65,260
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $75,030
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $75,020
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $64,660
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $56,780
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $81,450
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $80,640
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $79,830
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $43,450
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,800
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $81,180
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $103,290
- Physical Therapist — $102,430
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $58,760
- Nursing Assistant — $49,860
- Medical Assistant — $48,590
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $44,150
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $46,450
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $35,500
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,020
- Bartender — $42,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,220
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,220
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,460
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $47,530
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $42,440
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $39,950
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $51,820
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $48,120
- Childcare Worker — $43,380
- Animal Caretaker — $37,720
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $37,140
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $136,380
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $99,990
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $84,660
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $78,810
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $63,510
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $60,530
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $46,960
- Retail Salesperson — $38,700
- Cashier — $38,520
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $79,450
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $79,170
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $66,050
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $61,130
- Office Clerks, General — $59,840
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $57,330
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $54,930
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $51,060
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan — $50,380
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $49,890
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $49,200
- Customer Service Representative — $47,830
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $42,800
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,340
- Carpenter — $59,760
- Construction Laborer — $47,980
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $83,940
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $63,950
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $57,240
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $84,880
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $60,400
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $55,220
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,610
- Food Batchmaker — $43,090
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $41,820
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,810
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,640
- Light Truck Driver — $49,990
- Driver/Sales Worker — $47,150
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,730
- Stocker and Order Filler — $45,010