Moving to Boulder

Cost of Living in Boulder, Colorado

Boulder's cost of living runs above the Colorado and national averages, driven mostly by housing. Here's what actually costs more, and by how much, sourced and dated.

New to Boulder › Cost of Living

Boulder cost-of-living quick facts

Median home price: [VERIFY: Zillow Home Value Index or Redfin Data Center, month/year]
Median rent: [VERIFY: source, date]
Property tax rate: [VERIFY: City of Boulder / Boulder County Assessor mill levy, date]
Sales tax rate: [VERIFY: City of Boulder finance page, date]
Colorado state income tax rate: [VERIFY: Colorado Department of Revenue, date]
Cost-of-living index vs. national average: [VERIFY: C2ER Cost of Living Index or BLS CPI, date]

Housing costs in Boulder

Housing is the single biggest reason Boulder costs more than most of Colorado. [VERIFY: Zillow Home Value Index or Redfin Data Center, month/year] for the current median home price, and [VERIFY: source, date] for median rent across apartment sizes. Boulder's housing market is also shaped by the University of Colorado Boulder, open-space growth boundaries that limit new construction, and steady demand from people moving here for the outdoor access and the tech and research economy.

Boulder vs. Denver cost of living

People relocating to the Front Range often compare Boulder to Denver directly. [VERIFY: source, date] for a sourced, dated comparison of median home price, rent, and an overall cost-of-living index between the two cities. Do not treat any percentage gap as final until it is pulled from an authoritative source.

Utilities and taxes

Colorado has a state income tax; [VERIFY: Colorado Department of Revenue, date] for the current rate and structure. Boulder's combined sales tax rate is [VERIFY: City of Boulder finance page, date], and property tax is set by the Boulder County Assessor's mill levy, [VERIFY: City of Boulder / Boulder County Assessor, date]. Utility costs (electric, gas, water, internet) need their own sourced figures; [VERIFY: source, date].

Groceries and everyday costs

Day-to-day costs like groceries, dining, and childcare in Boulder typically run above the national average, in line with the broader cost-of-living gap. [VERIFY: C2ER Cost of Living Index or BLS CPI, date] for a sourced breakdown by category before quoting a specific percentage.

Related guides

Moving to Boulder: the master guide
Homes for sale in Boulder: what homes cost and what buying involves.
Boulder real estate market: segments, trends, and the rental side.
Living in Boulder: what day-to-day life is actually like.
Boulder neighborhoods: where costs vary most.
Is Boulder a good place to live?

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Cost of living FAQ

Is Boulder expensive to live in?

[VERIFY: source, date] Boulder consistently ranks among Colorado's most expensive cities to live in, driven mainly by housing costs. The exact cost-of-living index figure needs a sourced, dated number before publishing.

What is the median home price in Boulder, Colorado?

[VERIFY: Zillow Home Value Index or Redfin Data Center, month/year] Median home prices in Boulder move often, so this figure needs a current, dated pull before it can be quoted.

How does Boulder's cost of living compare to Denver?

[VERIFY: source, date] Housing in Boulder generally runs higher than Denver, but the exact gap needs a sourced, dated comparison before publishing a number.

What is the property tax rate in Boulder, Colorado?

[VERIFY: City of Boulder / Boulder County Assessor mill levy, date]

Does Colorado have a state income tax?

[VERIFY: Colorado Department of Revenue, date] Colorado's state income tax structure and current rate need a sourced, dated citation before publishing.

Sources

Every figure on this page is pending a sourced, dated citation. Candidate authoritative sources for the numbers above:

Zillow Home Value Index or Redfin Data Center (home prices)
BLS Consumer Price Index or Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index
U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (demographics)
City of Boulder finance / budget pages and the Boulder County Assessor (tax rates)
Colorado Department of Revenue (state income tax)

Re-check and re-date every number at least quarterly once published; note the "as of" date visibly on the page, not just here.