Cost of Living in Grand Junction, CO
Grand Junction, CO — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Grand Junction, CO to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Grand Junction, CO vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Housing | 86.4 | −13.6% |
| Goods | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Utilities | 83.3 | −16.7% |
| Other services | 99.8 | −0.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Grand Junction, CO
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $881 | $35,240/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $986 | $39,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,249 | $49,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,737 | $69,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,095 | $83,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Grand Junction, CO
- Federal income tax$3,641
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,008
- Medicare (1.45%)$703
- Colorado income tax$1,426
- Take-home pay$39,732
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in Grand Junction, CO
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grand Junction, CO expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Grand Junction, CO metro area are 95.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 86.4%. It is the #158 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Grand Junction, CO?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,286 in Grand Junction, CO (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,510.
How much is rent in Grand Junction, CO?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Grand Junction, CO are $881 for a studio, $986 for one bedroom, $1,249 for two bedrooms and $1,737 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Grand Junction, CO
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $107,130
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,870
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $76,400
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $64,060
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $52,230
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $39,070
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $95,990
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $44,980
- Medical Assistant — $44,390
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,510
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $43,730
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,420
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,510
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $39,970
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $38,190
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $35,400
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $68,990
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $66,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $54,760
- Retail Salesperson — $35,630
- Cashier — $34,390
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $67,240
- Office Clerks, General — $51,680
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,800
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $45,510
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $44,140
- Customer Service Representative — $41,490
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,660
- Construction Laborer — $44,740
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $47,690
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,600
- Light Truck Driver — $43,960
- Stocker and Order Filler — $40,120
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,180