Cost of Living in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $9,679 per year — combining federal taxes with Colorado's state income tax. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($2,089/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $35,253, or roughly $2,938 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro has a cost of living index of 146.1 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). At 46% above average, Denver-Aurora-Centennial is a noticeably expensive metro — groceries, services, and everyday purchases cost more than in most of the country.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in Denver-Aurora-Centennial represents approximately 36% of gross income. That exceeds the conventional 30% guideline, meaning housing takes a significant share of the budget at this income level.
Annual Breakdown
Cost of Living Index
Living in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is roughly 46% more expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
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Affordability Score
K-12 Schools
See Details →Colleges & Universities
See Details →| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of Healing Arts | 60 | $11,520 | 100.0% |
| Montessori Education Center of the Rockies | 31 | $0 | 92.0% |
| United Beauty College | 12 | $0 | 92.0% |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | 5,914 | $0 | 88.0% |
| Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster | 115 | $0 | 88.0% |
| Aveda Institute-Denver | 316 | $0 | 83.0% |
| Colorado School of Trades | 108 | $0 | 82.0% |
| Avalon Institute-Aurora | 217 | $0 | 81.0% |
| Stacey James Institute | 68 | $0 | 81.0% |
| Colorado School of Mines | 7,599 | $18,390 | 79.0% |
| University of Denver | 13,387 | $58,032 | 78.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Denver | 231 | $0 | 76.0% |
| Empire Beauty School-Littleton | 44 | $0 | 73.0% |
| Empire Beauty School-Thornton | 104 | $0 | 70.0% |
| Colorado Media School | 45 | $0 | 70.0% |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Denver | 1,104 | $0 | 69.0% |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | 321 | $17,406 | 69.0% |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | 196 | $0 | 69.0% |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | 764 | $0 | 64.0% |
| Regis University | 4,631 | $41,990 | 61.0% |
| Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology | 161 | $13,819 | 61.0% |
| Pickens Technical College | 1,025 | $3,900 | 58.0% |
| Colorado Christian University | 8,254 | $26,668 | 55.0% |
| Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | 290 | $0 | 55.0% |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 23,409 | $9,096 | 47.0% |
| Empire Beauty School-Aurora | 98 | $0 | 41.0% |
| Red Rocks Community College | 7,382 | $3,936 | 37.0% |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | 1,888 | $20,913 | 37.0% |
| Front Range Community College | 21,096 | $3,940 | 30.0% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | 17,593 | $8,868 | 30.0% |
| Community College of Aurora | 8,684 | $3,754 | 29.0% |
| Arapahoe Community College | 13,978 | $3,940 | 27.0% |
| Platt College-Aurora | 215 | $17,920 | 20.0% |
| Community College of Denver | 7,715 | $3,941 | 16.0% |
| Colorado State University Global | 9,507 | $8,400 | — |
| Rocky Vista University | 1,574 | $0 | — |
| Denver College of Nursing | 1,008 | $18,836 | — |
| Denver Seminary | 837 | $0 | — |
| Taft University System | 496 | $0 | — |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora | 212 | $22,480 | — |
| National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) | 203 | $0 | — |
| Iliff School of Theology | 172 | $0 | — |
| Colorado Chinese Medicine University | 84 | $0 | — |