Cost of Living in Denver, CO
| Cost of Living in Denver, CO | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 9% higher | 31% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 7% lower | 16% lower |
| Food | 1% higher | 5% higher |
| Healthcare | 2% lower | 1% lower |
| Transportation | 6% higher | 4% higher |
| Goods & Services | 3% higher | 6% higher |
The cost of living in Denver, CO is 4% higher than the state average and 11% higher than the national average. Denver, CO housing is 31% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 16% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 6% more in Denver, CO than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 1% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% pricier in Denver, CO.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Denver is $1,979, while home prices circle around $650,770.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Denver, energy bills cost around $145.02 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.74 in Denver, a dozen eggs go for around $4.95 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.30.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Denver, an optometry check-up costs around $121.38, while a dentist appointment is priced $126.27 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.67 in Denver, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $60.05.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $30.47 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $36.04.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Denver, you should budget around $14.70 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.81, while dry cleaning costs about $17.91.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Denver, the median household income is $78,177.