F
55%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
183%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Central Boulder Boulder Colorado
Cost of living155169111
Goods & Services104104104
Groceries9696101
Health care8989100
Housing283329134
Transportation109109105
Utilities888891
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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Central Boulder is 39% higher than the Boulder average
  • The cost of living in Central Boulder is 55% higher than the national average
  • Central Boulder housing is 183% higher than the national average
  • Colorado general sales tax is 43% lower than the national average
  • Colorado state income tax is 69% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Central Boulder

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Compare Boulder, CO Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Household$74,729$6,227$1,744$2,242

      Colorado Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Colorado 2.9% 10%

      Colorado Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Colorado 4.4% 4.4%

      Goods & Services

      Item Boulder National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.33$24.264.4%
      Beauty Salon $45.45$45.560.3%
      Toothpaste $4.12$3.7011.4%
      Shampoo $1.19$1.286.8%
      Movie $11.09$12.138.6%
      Bowling $22.22$18.0023.5%

      Groceries

      Item Boulder National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.56$5.844.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.578.9%
      Milk $4.89$4.674.7%
      Potatoes $4.62$4.936.4%
      Pizza $11.06$12.098.5%
      Beer $11.34$10.418.9%

      Health Care

      Item Boulder National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $110.45$125.6812.1%
      Doctor $188.89$135.7839.1%
      Dentist $107.78$113.294.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.80$10.651.4%
      Lipitor $477.35$468.601.9%

      Housing

      Item Boulder National avg. Difference
      Home Price $736,000.00$184,700.00298.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,542.08$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,588.00$949.0067.3%

      Transportation

      Item Boulder National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.58$3.463.4%
      Tire Balancing $73.58$59.9222.8%

      Utilities

      Item Boulder National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $161.00$193.9917.0%
      Phone $195.56$192.251.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Eldorado Springs, CO3251000.1%
      Gold Hill, CO1951000.1%
      Crisman, CO511000.1%
      Hidden Lake, CO301000.1%
      Leyner, CO01000.1%
      Boulder, CO108,77716968.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Broken Arrow, OK108,875945.8%
      San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA108,46716464.3%
      Inglewood, CA109,30915757.4%
      Sandy Springs, GA108,18013535.5%
      Hillsboro, OR108,02613232.1%
      Boulder, CO108,77716968.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.