Cost of living in Denver, CO Livability score 52 · cost-of-living index 105.8 (US = 100)
How Denver compares Where Denver 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): 106 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 106 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $573k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $573k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $302 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $302 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: 0.52% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.52% 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 Denver 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) 105.8 #174 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 101.6 #163 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $6.02 #174 of 200 Median household income $96,920 #14 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $52,179 #7 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.26% #37 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.7% #66 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $573,221 #179 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.9× #155 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -2.9% #188 of 200 Price per square foot $302 #174 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,900 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,910 #147 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 14,158 Median days on market 14 #76 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 0.52% #22 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,708 #102 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 5 Avg commute to work 28 min #166 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) 64 #191 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 45 #118 of 200 Parks 45 Hiking areas 27 Golf courses 27 Shooting ranges 3 Lakes 5
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.