Moving from Colorado Springs to Denver
Your paycheck buys slightly less in Denver than in Colorado Springs (-4.8%); you'd need about $95,300 to break even. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Denver: $95,300
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $95,300 in Denver, CO to match $90,000 in Colorado Springs, CO ($5,300 more), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Both are in Colorado, so state income tax is the same; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Colorado Springs vs Denver: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,761 → $1,943/mo
- Median home value
- $487,900 → $631,000
- Median household income
- $90,760 → $108,046
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 100.7 → 105.8
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (92.2 → 90.6 of 100)
Colorado Springs vs Denver cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 100.7 | 105.8 |
| Median rent | $1,761 | $1,943 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $70,440 | $77,720 |
| Median home value | $487,900 | $631,000 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $2,943 | $3,812 |
| Income needed to buy | $126,145 | $163,351 |
| Median property tax | $2,063 | $3,387 |
| State income tax on $90,000 | $3,252 | $3,252 |
| Metro population | 777,635 | 3,050,512 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
- Denver, CO: Denver charges employees $5.75 a month (Occupational Privilege Tax) in months they earn $500+ working in the city.
Your yearly budget: Colorado Springs vs Denver
On a $90,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $54,067 a year in Colorado Springs and $56,251 in Denver if you rent: $2,184 more after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $68,256 and $78,673 ($10,417 more).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | Colorado SpringsBefore | DenverAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $90,000, single filer | $21,503 | $21,503 | $0 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,207 | $1,207 | $0 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,453 | $1,453 | $0 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,088 | $2,088 | $0 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $6,684 | $6,684 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $21,132 | $23,316 | +$2,184 |
| Total if you rent | $54,067 | $56,251 | +$2,184 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $31,005 | $40,098 | +$9,093 |
| Property tax median home | $2,063 | $3,387 | +$1,324 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $2,253 | $2,253 | $0 |
| Total if you buy | $68,256 | $78,673 | +$10,417 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $20,978 a year in Colorado Springs and $20,978 in Denver (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Colorado Springs to Denver
About 3,447 households (5,051 people) moved from the Colorado Springs metro area to the Denver metro area in 2022–2023, making Denver the #1 destination for people leaving Colorado Springs among the 149 metro areas we cover. 3,457 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $67,372.
Cost to move from Colorado Springs to Denver
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 70 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Colorado Springs vs Denver
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Colorado Springs area among the highest (score 92.2) and the Denver area among the highest (score 90.6), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $304 vs $317 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Denver cheaper than Colorado Springs?
Overall prices in the Denver area are 5.1% higher than in Colorado Springs (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,943 vs $1,761 a month, and the median home is $631,000 vs $487,900.
What salary do I need in Denver to match $100,000 in Colorado Springs?
About $105,800, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Both are in Colorado, so state income tax is the same.
How much does it cost to move from Colorado Springs to Denver?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 70 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Colorado Springs to Denver?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 3,447 households (5,051 people) moved from the Colorado Springs metro area to the Denver metro area, and 3,457 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Colorado Springs move
- Phoenix 614 households
- Dallas 481 households
- Washington, D.C. 416 households
- San Antonio 407 households
- Los Angeles 401 households
- Seattle 375 households
- Fort Collins 362 households
- Tampa 351 households