Cost of living in Boulder, CO Livability score 54 · cost-of-living index 100.6 (US = 100)
How Boulder compares Where Boulder falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 101 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 101 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $728k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $728k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $383 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $383 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.8% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.8% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.53% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.53% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 490 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 490 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 88° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 88° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 18° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 18° Map of Boulder Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 100.6 #145 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.3 #90 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.72 #144 of 200 Median household income $99,770 #10 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $44,878 #43 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.41% #48 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.8% #101 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $727,954 #187 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 7.3× #186 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -2.6% #181 of 200 Price per square foot $383 #182 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,900 sqft Median rent (monthly) $2,257 #175 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,579 Median days on market 16 #90 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.7% #73 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.77% #108 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.40% Capital gains tax 4.40% #97 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.53% #24 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,559 #140 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 #93 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $16,000 #150 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $400 #193 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.79% of value (~$501/yr) #168 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 23 min #75 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 16.5¢/kWh #83 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $149 #83 of 200 Gasoline $3.30/gal #94 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,800 #149 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,000 #116 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $550 #7 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 49 #122 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 700 #25 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,500 #133 of 200 Avg summer high 88°F #98 of 200 Avg winter low 18°F #159 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 5b Frost window 05-10 → 10-10
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 490 #153 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,900 #173 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.