Colorado Cost of Living & Economic Score

Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis data on price levels, real income, and household-budget impact for Colorado. Last updated 2024.

C-
InflationRank Score
71 / 100
Colorado ranks around the U.S. national average for cost-of-living-adjusted economic conditions.
Cost level (RPP)
104.0
4% above U.S. average
Real per-capita income
$63.0K
4K above U.S. ($59K)
Property tax
0.55%
vs U.S. avg 1.02%
Sales tax
7.81%
combined state + local avg
State income tax (top)
4.40%
top marginal rate
Home insurance (avg)
$2,700/yr
~$300K coverage

Cost of living in Colorado

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, prices in Colorado run 4.0% above the U.S. average (Regional Price Parity index 104.0 on a base of 100). The state sits in the West region. That puts it close to the middle of the U.S. cost-of-living distribution.

Real per-capita personal income — what local residents actually earn after adjusting for cost of living — is $63.0K (vs $59K nationally). Locals have higher real purchasing power than the U.S. average — high incomes here more than compensate for any cost premium.

Notable cost factors: low property tax (0.55%), elevated homeowners insurance (~$2,700/yr).

Cost of living in Colorado's major metro areas

How does cost of living in Colorado compare to other states?

Maryland C- Oregon D+ Vermont D+ California D- Connecticut D+

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Colorado?

Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.0 (U.S.=100), meaning prices are 4.0% above the national average. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.

Is Colorado affordable to live in?

Colorado has an InflationRank score of 71/100 (grade C-), reflecting costs above the national average relative to local incomes. Real per-capita income is $63.0K (U.S. avg $59K).

What is the InflationRank score for Colorado?

Colorado's InflationRank score is 71/100 (grade C-). The score blends cost burden (60%), inflation pressure (25%), and income resilience (15%), using Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics federal data.

About the InflationRank Score

The InflationRank Score is a proprietary 0–100 composite that summarizes a place's cost-of-living and economic conditions on a familiar A–F grading scale. Higher scores reflect a better cost-of-living-adjusted economic situation.

The composite weighs three dimensions sourced from federal government datasets: cost level (how local prices compare to the national average), inflation pressure (recent direction and pace of cost movements), and income resilience (real, cost-adjusted earning power of local residents). The score is anchored to the U.S. national average and reviewed annually as federal data refreshes.

Underlying data is drawn from authoritative federal economic agencies and public housing datasets. See full data sources →