Colorado Springs, CO vs. Denver, CO
Median rent is $1,562 a month in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,770 in Denver, CO. Household income is $83,198 against $91,681. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Colorado Springs, CO median | Denver, CO median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,420 | $37,070 | +7.7% |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,060 | $38,470 | +6.7% |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $101,130 | +5.2% |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $137,610 | +2.5% |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,120 | $48,590 | +5.4% |
| General and Operations Managers | $120,770 | $142,330 | +17.9% |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $100,020 | +17.7% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,230 | $39,650 | -14.2% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO: frequently asked questions
Is Denver, CO more expensive than Colorado Springs, CO?
Yes. Prices in Denver, CO are about 8.3% higher than in Colorado Springs, CO: a regional price level of 105.5 against 97.4, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in Denver, CO to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Colorado Springs, CO?
About $108,300. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (97.4 in Colorado Springs, CO, 105.5 in Denver, CO) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Colorado Springs, CO or Denver, CO?
The median gross rent is $1,562 a month in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,770 in Denver, CO, a difference of $208 a month or $2,496 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Colorado Springs, CO or Denver, CO?
The median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $91,681 in Denver, CO. Rent takes 22.5% of the median income in Colorado Springs, CO and 23.2% in Denver, CO.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in Denver, CO?
About $70,800 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $1,770 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $62,500 in Colorado Springs, CO.
More comparisons with Colorado Springs, CO
More comparisons with Denver, CO
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Colorado Springs, CO converted into Denver, CO at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Colorado Springs, CO · Denver, CO