Grand Junction cost of living
Prices in the Grand Junction, CO metro area run at 95.5 against a national average of 100, ranking it #157 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 86.4.
What drives the number
Prices in Grand Junction run at 95.5 where the national average is 100, so about 4.5 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #157 of 387 metro areas. Against Colorado as a whole it is 7.6 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 96.1, rents at 86.4, other services at 83.3. Goods are close to national almost everywhere, because most are shipped and priced nationally, so it is worth noticing when rents behave the same way.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 95.5 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
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 Grand Junction 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 | 2,330 | $31,390 | $32,869 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,230 | $33,960 | $35,560 | $34,580 |
| Cashiers | 1,900 | $31,910 | $33,414 | $31,190 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,840 | $92,280 | $96,628 | $93,600 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,240 | $33,690 | $35,277 | $34,900 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,090 | $35,370 | $37,037 | $33,760 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,070 | $39,410 | $41,267 | $37,090 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,060 | $55,220 | $57,822 | $57,440 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 95.5.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | 105.8 | 146.9 | #24 |
| 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 |
| Pueblo | 91.8 | 71.3 | #251 |
Grand Junction: common questions
Is Grand Junction expensive?
Prices are 4.5% below the national average, a parity of 95.5 where the country is 100. It ranks #157 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Colorado as a whole it is 7.6 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Grand Junction?
The median worker there earns $47,250, which buys what $49,476 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 86.4 against goods at 96.1. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.