Denver-Aurora-Centennial cost of living
Prices in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area run at 105.8 against a national average of 100, ranking it #24 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 146.9.
What drives the number
Prices in Denver-Aurora-Centennial run at 105.8 where the national average is 100, so about 5.8 per cent above the country as a whole. It ranks #24 of 387 metro areas. Against Colorado as a whole it is 2.7 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
Housing is doing nearly all of the work. Rents sit at 146.9 while goods sit at 101.0, a gap of 41.1 points between what it costs to live somewhere and what it costs to buy things. Someone who could reduce their housing cost here, by living further out or with fewer rooms, would remove most of the premium.
Comparing a job here against one elsewhere on the headline salary alone will mislead by roughly 5.8 per cent. Adjusting by the parity fixes that.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Denver-Aurora-Centennial is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 42,620 | $36,310 | $34,319 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 39,120 | $37,500 | $35,444 | $34,580 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 33,420 | $41,600 | $39,319 | $37,090 |
| Software Developers | 31,190 | $134,120 | $126,767 | $133,080 |
| Registered Nurses | 29,570 | $98,500 | $93,100 | $93,600 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 28,300 | $93,200 | $88,091 | $81,270 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 28,040 | $47,310 | $44,716 | $42,830 |
| Cashiers | 26,070 | $36,270 | $34,282 | $31,190 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 105.8.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 105.2 | 157.0 | #29 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | 101.1 | 120.6 | #65 |
| Colorado Springs | 100.7 | 116.2 | #75 |
| Greeley | 100.2 | 112.6 | #85 |
| Grand Junction | 95.5 | 86.4 | #157 |
| Pueblo | 91.8 | 71.3 | #251 |
Denver-Aurora-Centennial: common questions
Is Denver-Aurora-Centennial expensive?
Prices are 5.8% above the national average, a parity of 105.8 where the country is 100. It ranks #24 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Colorado as a whole it is 2.7 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The median worker there earns $61,110, which buys what $57,760 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 146.9 against goods at 101.0. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.