Denver shows up on almost every “best places to live” list, and for good reason. But the price tag that comes with mountain views and a booming job market catches a lot of people off guard once they start running the actual numbers. Here is a realistic breakdown of what it costs to live in Denver right now, and how that compares to the Northern Colorado cities an hour up the road.
Housing Is the Number That Changes Everything
Housing drives most of Denver’s cost of living, and it is not close. Median home prices in Denver currently sit somewhere in the $560,000 to $660,000 range depending on the source and the month, and that range has stayed fairly wide because different neighborhoods pull the average in different directions. A home in Cherry Creek or the Highlands can run well above that number, while areas like Aurora or parts of Lakewood on the metro’s edge tend to sit lower.
Rent tells a similar story. A one-bedroom apartment in Denver typically runs somewhere between $1,600 and $1,900 a month, and two-bedroom units often land closer to $2,200 to $2,400. Downtown and the more walkable neighborhoods close to LoDo and Cherry Creek push toward the higher end of that range, while outlying areas can bring it down somewhat.
Property taxes are actually one of Denver’s few breaks. Colorado’s property tax rate is low compared to the national average, generally landing around half a percent of assessed value, so owning tends to be more forgiving here than the sticker price on a home would suggest.
Income and Taxes
Colorado has a flat state income tax, currently 4.40 percent regardless of income level, which is simpler than a lot of states even if it is not the lowest rate around. Combined state and local sales tax in Denver runs close to 8 percent, which is worth factoring in if you are budgeting for everyday purchases, not just housing.
Median household income in Denver sits somewhere in the mid to high $80,000s to low $90,000s depending on the data source, and most local cost of living guides suggest a single person needs somewhere around $78,000 to $85,000 a year to live comfortably without financial strain. Families with children should plan for meaningfully more, mainly because of childcare.
Transportation
Denver’s transportation costs land close to the national average for gas and driving, with fuel typically running around $3.50 a gallon. A monthly RTD transit pass costs roughly $114, which can be a real savings if your commute and lifestyle work with public transit. The catch is that Denver’s sprawl means a lot of residents still end up driving daily even with transit available, especially if work or errands take them outside the areas transit covers well.
Healthcare and Childcare
Healthcare costs in Denver run noticeably above the national median, often cited around 13 to 19 percent higher depending on the specific service. Employer-sponsored coverage helps offset a lot of that, but anyone buying an individual plan should expect Denver premiums to come in higher than what they might be used to elsewhere.
Childcare is often the expense that surprises new Denver residents the most. Full-time infant or toddler care commonly runs $1,500 to $2,000 a month per child, and that is before factoring in waitlists at the more established centers. For families moving with young kids, this number alone can be the deciding factor in whether Denver fits the budget.
So Is Denver Worth the Price?
For a lot of people, yes. The job market, especially in tech, healthcare, and professional services, tends to pay well enough to offset the higher cost of living, and the lifestyle draw is real. But it is worth being honest about the tradeoff before committing to it, especially if remote work or a hybrid schedule gives you more flexibility on where you actually need to live.
How Denver Compares to Northern Colorado
This is where things get interesting for anyone still deciding where to land. Northern Colorado cities offer a lot of what draws people to Denver, mountain access, a strong outdoor culture, a growing job market, without matching Denver’s price tag.
Fort Collins runs close behind Denver on home prices, typically in the $550,000 to $570,000 range, but comes with a smaller, more walkable city feel and a shorter commute to outdoor recreation. Loveland sits lower, generally around $500,000 to $510,000 for a median home, while Greeley is the clear value option in the region at roughly $430,000 to $450,000, a gap of well over $100,000 compared to Denver in some comparisons.
Rent follows a similar pattern across the region, generally landing below Denver’s numbers, especially in Greeley and parts of Loveland. Commute times are the real tradeoff. Living in Northern Colorado means budgeting 60 to 90 minutes each way if your job is actually in Denver, which only makes sense for people with remote, hybrid, or Northern Colorado-based work.
If you are weighing Denver against the cities Skyline actually serves, our cost of living in Colorado guide breaks down Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley side by side, and our neighborhood guide for new residents goes deeper on what each city actually feels like day to day.
Thinking Past Denver? We Can Help
Whether the numbers point you toward Denver or a Northern Colorado city instead, Skyline can help. We serve the Denver metro as well as Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley, so you do not need to pick your mover and your city separately. Get a free quote and let’s talk through your options.
