City profile
Denver, CO cost of living
CO · BLS RPP 107.4
Latest official changes
Updates affecting Denver, CO
Existing city metrics remain tied to the current verified ReloMath dataset until the owner flips the new data vintage. Use these rows as dated official-source change receipts.
Overall RPP
107.4
US = 100
Housing RPP
145.8
Housing component
Goods RPP
105.5
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$2,201/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Denver, CO sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#15 of 67
+7.4 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+9.0
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#10 of 67
+595/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Denver, CO
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Denver, CO metro.
Moved in
247,047
people · 163,957 households
Moved out
256,654
people · 160,424 households
Net
−9,607
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#49 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-9,503
median -104 people
Largest flow share
3% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Boulder County, CO 7,443
- El Paso County, CO 5,041
- Weld County, CO 4,118
- Larimer County, CO 3,020
- Los Angeles County, CA 2,845
Where residents moved to
- Weld County, CO 8,733
- El Paso County, CO 5,996
- Boulder County, CO 5,426
- Larimer County, CO 3,986
- Maricopa County, AZ 2,967
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Denver, CO?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Denver, CO | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $53,700 | $50,000 x (107.4/100) |
| $75,000 | $80,550 | $75,000 x (107.4/100) |
| $100,000 | $107,400 | $100,000 x (107.4/100) |
| $125,000 | $134,250 | $125,000 x (107.4/100) |
| $150,000 | $161,100 | $150,000 x (107.4/100) |
| $200,000 | $214,800 | $200,000 x (107.4/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Colorado flat income tax 4.4%. Denver city tax 2.25% on wages.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Denver, CO?
- Denver, CO has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 107.4 (US average = 100). It is 7.4% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Denver, CO?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $107,400 in Denver, CO to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Denver, CO?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Denver, CO is approximately $2,201 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Denver, CO?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 247,047 people moved into the Denver, CO metro and 256,654 moved out — a net loss of roughly 9,607 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Boulder County, CO.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Denver, CO, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Denver, CO
Side-by-side cost of living and the equivalent salary you'd need — pick a destination.