Cost of living in Colorado Springs (2026 breakdown)

---
title: "Cost of living in Colorado Springs (2026 breakdown)"
description: "Housing, utilities, groceries, transit, healthcare, and taxes in Colorado Springs, with rent ranges, salary needs, and a Denver comparison."
source: "https://www.avian-coloradosprings.com/blog/cost-of-living-colorado-springs"
markdown: "https://www.avian-coloradosprings.com/markdown/blog/cost-of-living-colorado-springs"
lastModified: "2026-06-08"
---
# Cost of living in Colorado Springs (2026 breakdown)
- Published: 2026-06-08
- Last reviewed: 2026-06-08
- Author: Avian leasing team
- Category: Cost of Living
- Primary keyword: cost of living Colorado Springs
- Secondary keywords: cost of living Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs rent prices, Colorado Springs vs Denver cost of living, salary needed to live in Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs utilities cost
- Reading time: 10 minutes
Colorado Springs costs about [10% more than the national average](https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/colorado_springs). It's still the cheaper alternative to Denver, by a [real margin](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&city1=Denver%2C+CO&country2=United+States&city2=Colorado+Springs%2C+CO). If you're coming from a coastal city, your dollar goes further on rent, on power, on most weeks of groceries. Coming from Texas or the Midwest, you'll feel the housing bite. You'll get some of it back on energy and healthcare.

A single person needs roughly [$50,800 a year](https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/colorado_springs) to live here without sweating it. A family of four, about $84,240. Those numbers cover rent, food, the car, doctor visits, and a little room to breathe.

What follows is what things actually cost in 2026: rent by apartment size, what the grocery cart rings up to, the utility bill, the tax bite, and how the city stacks up against Denver.

---

## Housing costs in Colorado Springs

Housing is the line item that does the damage. Colorado Springs sits at a [housing cost-of-living index of 140.9](https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/colorado_springs), or about 41% above the national baseline. It's the one expense that catches people off guard when they move here expecting small-city prices.

Median home price: $440,500. That's roughly 30% above the national median of $338,100, but 16% below Colorado's state median of $527,200. [PayScale puts the number closer to $546,946](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs), which probably picks up newer construction and the premium on west-side and downtown homes with mountain views.

For renters, the picture [looks like this](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Colorado-Springs):

| Apartment type | Average monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,350 – $1,575 |
| 1-bedroom (city centre) | $1,770 |
| 1-bedroom (outside centre) | $1,516 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,590 |
| 3-bedroom (city centre) | $2,625 |
| 3-bedroom (outside centre) | $2,315 |

Those are market-wide averages. Newer luxury buildings downtown sit above them. Avian, a LEED Silver apartment community at 217 S. Weber St., [lists studios starting at $1,691](/floor-plans), 1-bedrooms from $1,535 to $2,280, and 2-bedrooms from $2,295 up to $2,497 for the premium units with the panoramic mountain views. The higher end is paying for the [rooftop spa, sky deck lounge, resort-style pool, and fitness center](/amenities); the buildings that draw military officers, defense contractors, and remote workers tend to look like that. For a quarterly-updated read on where these numbers are heading, we maintain a [downtown Colorado Springs rent index](/colorado-springs-rent-index) with every major tracker side by side.

Want to keep rent under $1,600? You'll find it. Just not in the downtown core, and probably not in a building with a rooftop pool. [The Powers Corridor on the east side and Briargate to the north](/blog/moving-to-colorado-springs-neighborhood-guide) carry more supply at lower prices. You're trading walkability for square footage.

Rent versus buy, the napkin math: median home at $440,500, 7% mortgage rate, 20% down, and you're at roughly $2,950 a month for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. That's nearly double the median 2-bedroom rent of $1,590. For most people moving here in 2026, renting is the cheaper monthly number. Probably will be until rates drop or prices give.

One thing to know before signing a Colorado lease: the state rewrote a chunk of its landlord-tenant law between 2019 and 2024. Security deposits, habitability, rent increase notice, and radon disclosure all changed. [Colorado renter rights for 2026](/blog/colorado-renter-rights-2026) has the current statute references. And before you budget, the [move-in cost calculator](/move-in-cost-calculator) itemizes everything due at signing — deposits, fees, pet costs, movers — so the first month's rent isn't the only number you plan for.

---

## How much do utilities cost in Colorado Springs?

Utilities run about [21% below the national average](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs). One of the city's genuine advantages. A standard 915-square-foot apartment pulls [roughly $200 a month](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Colorado-Springs) for electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage combined.

Itemized:

- Energy (electricity plus gas): [$174.56 a month on average](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs). Colorado Springs Utilities is municipal, and rates run lower than Xcel's in Denver, lower again than investor-owned utilities in most other states. The climate cooperates. Summers don't sit above 90°F for long. Winters are cold but sunny, and the sun does a lot of work on the heating bill.
- Water, sewer, garbage: usually bundled into the energy bill through Colorado Springs Utilities. Total monthly utility spend for one person in a 1-bedroom lands at $130–$180, depending on the season.
- Internet: $60–$80 a month for a 300 Mbps plan from Xfinity or CenturyLink. Fiber is available on some blocks through Ting or Quantum Fiber at roughly the same price.
- Phone: [$94.86 a month](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Colorado-Springs) for a plan with 10GB+ data. Mint and Visible drop that to about $30 if you're bringing your own phone.

Budget $280–$350 a month for all of it in a 1-bedroom. In a house, $350–$450.

---

## What do groceries cost in Colorado Springs?

Groceries are about [3% above the national average](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs). Not a dealbreaker, not a deal either. Colorado Springs is on the edge of farm country, but most of what hits the shelves travels through Denver first. You're paying a small logistics premium.

[Shelf prices for 2026](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs):

| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Loaf of bread | $4.22 |
| Gallon of milk | $4.89 |
| Carton of eggs (12) | $4.83 |
| Bananas (per bunch) | $0.79 |
| Ground beef (1 lb) | $5.97 |
| Chicken breast (1 lb) | $4.50 – $5.50 |
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.80 – $2.20 |
| Rice (1 lb) | $1.50 |
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $5.00 |

A single person cooking at home runs $350–$420 a month. A family of four, $900–$1,100. King Soopers (Kroger) is the everyday workhorse and has the best prices on most of the list. Safeway and Sprouts cost more, but the produce is better, and Sprouts is where the specialty items live. There's a Costco on the north side off Nevada Ave. for the bulk run.

Eating out gets you fast. A cheap meal is about $20. A [mid-range three-course dinner for two](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Colorado-Springs) without drinks, around $85. A domestic beer at a bar is $5–$6. A cappuccino, $4.50–$5.50. If you're downtown, [the restaurants within a 10-minute walk of Tejon Street](/blog/restaurants-walking-distance-downtown-colorado-springs) cover everything from $20 walk-in lunches to $150 steakhouse dinners.

---

## Transportation costs in Colorado Springs

Transportation expenses run 1% below the national average. That number hides what matters: Colorado Springs is a car city. You will drive.

Gas: [$3.04 a gallon](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs) as of mid-2026. It fluctuates. It's consistently 20 to 40 cents under Denver, and a lot less than California or the Northeast. [Colorado's gas tax is 29.18 cents per gallon](https://taxfoundation.org/location/colorado/), which is middle-of-the-pack.

Public transit: Mountain Metropolitan Transit runs buses across the city. [A one-way fare is $1.75; a monthly pass is $63](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Colorado-Springs). The system works for commuting into downtown. It is not a car replacement for most people. Service thins out after 7 p.m., and weekend headways stretch to 30 or 45 minutes. Live and work downtown and you can make it work. Commute from Briargate to Fort Carson and you're driving.

Average commute: 22 minutes one way, slightly under the national average. I-25 runs north–south through the city and stacks up at rush hour between Garden of the Gods Road and downtown. The Powers Boulevard corridor on the east side flows better but has more stoplights.

Car insurance: $110–$140 a month for a standard policy with full coverage. Colorado is top 15 nationally for premiums, mostly because of hail damage claims. If you park outside, get comprehensive. A bad summer storm will take the windshield and the hood in the same five minutes.

Annual transportation budget for a single driver commuting 15 miles each way: $3,500–$4,200, all-in. Gas, insurance, maintenance, registration.

---

## Healthcare costs in Colorado Springs

Healthcare comes in about [4% below the national average](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs). Meaningful if you're on an ACA marketplace plan or paying cash. Employer-sponsored insurance flattens most of that difference.

| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Doctor visit (routine) | $147.83 |
| Dentist visit (cleaning + exam) | $118.75 |
| Optometrist visit | $134.65 |
| Prescription drug (generic) | $21.40 |
| Vet visit (routine) | $75.26 |

*Source: [PayScale, 2026](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs).*

The two systems that run the region are UCHealth Memorial and Penrose-St. Francis (CommonSpirit). Both have downtown campuses. UCHealth runs the only Level I trauma center in southern Colorado. Kaiser Permanente has a footprint here, but it isn't dominant; most people get care through one of the two big systems.

Premiums are hard to give one honest number for. Employer plans, ACA marketplace, and TRICARE (huge in this market because of the five military installations) all produce different bills. For an individual ACA silver plan in El Paso County, figure $380–$520 a month before subsidies. A family silver plan, $1,100–$1,500.

Premiums vary too much for one number. Employer plans, ACA marketplace, and TRICARE (huge here because of the five military installations) all behave differently. An individual ACA silver plan in El Paso County runs $380–$520 a month before subsidies. A family silver plan, $1,100–$1,500.

## Taxes in Colorado Springs (2026)

Colorado's tax setup is simpler than most states. Not the cheapest.

Income tax: [a flat 4.40% on all taxable income](https://taxfoundation.org/location/colorado/). No brackets. A $70,000 salary owes $3,080 to the state. That's lower than California, Oregon, or New York. Higher than Texas, Florida, or Washington, which charge nothing. Colorado allows a standard deduction that mirrors the federal one, so your effective rate is a little under 4.40%.

Sales tax: [8.20% in Colorado Springs](https://coloradosprings.gov/sales-tax). The breakdown:
- State: 2.90%
- City of Colorado Springs: 3.07%
- El Paso County: 1.23%
- PPRTA (Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority): 1.00%

Groceries are exempt from the state portion but not from the city portion, so you're not paying the full 8.20% on food. Prescription drugs and most medical devices are exempt.

Property tax: Colorado has one of the [lowest effective property tax rates in the country, 0.50%](https://taxfoundation.org/location/colorado/) on owner-occupied housing. On a $440,500 home, that's about $2,202 a year. Actual mill levies vary by district, but Colorado's TABOR amendment keeps property taxes from spiking without voter approval. Whatever you think of TABOR politically, it does the thing it says on the tin.

No estate tax. No inheritance tax. Moving from a state that has either of those, that's real money.

---

## How Colorado Springs compares to Denver

Colorado Springs is [8.7% cheaper than Denver](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&city1=Denver%2C+CO&country2=United+States&city2=Colorado+Springs%2C+CO) once rent is in the picture, 5.9% cheaper without it. Housing is where the gap shows up.

| Category | Colorado Springs | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $440,500 | $620,000 |
| 1BR rent (city centre) | $1,770 | $2,060 |
| 2BR rent | $1,590 | $2,150 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.04 | $3.35 |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range) | $85 | $95 |
| Utilities (915 sq ft) | $200 | $215 |

*Sources: [BestPlaces](https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/colorado_springs), [Numbeo](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&city1=Denver%2C+CO&country2=United+States&city2=Colorado+Springs%2C+CO), [PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Colorado-Colorado-Springs).*

The 60-mile gap between the two cities pulls in people who work in Denver's south suburbs (Centennial, DTC, Lone Tree) and don't mind a 45-minute drive. Or who work remote and want the mountains without the Denver rent. The stretch of I-25 between the two is one of the busiest in the state, and it's getting busier every year.

---

## What salary do you need to live in Colorado Springs?

Single person: [$50,800 a year minimum](https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/colorado/colorado_springs) to cover rent, food, the car, healthcare, and put a little away. That's about $4,233 a month. The [average net monthly salary in Colorado Springs is $4,245](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Colorado-Springs), which means the typical worker is sitting right at the line.

Family of four: $84,240 a year, or $7,020 a month. That covers a 2-bedroom rental or a modest mortgage, two cars, groceries, utilities, health insurance, partial childcare, and a few hundred dollars left at the end.

How the major employer bases stack up:

The five military installations — Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, the Air Force Academy, and NORAD — set the floor for the local economy. An O-3 with four years in earns about $78,000 in base pay plus roughly $24,000 in tax-free BAH. Total comp around $102,000. Comfortably above the family-of-four threshold.

Civilian side: defense contractors (Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Booz Allen) pay $85,000–$140,000 for mid-career engineers and analysts. Healthcare at UCHealth and Penrose-St. Francis runs $65,000–$110,000 depending on role. Tech, a growing slice, lands at $90,000 to $160,000, with remote workers dragging coastal salaries into a mountain cost structure.

At $70,000 single, you're living well. At $55,000, you're fine if you watch the budget. Below $45,000, you're getting a roommate or a longer commute.

---

## Is Colorado Springs expensive?

Depends what you're comparing it to.

Against the national average: yes, about 10% more. Housing does the work. Most of the rest sits near or below the national baseline.

Against Denver: about 9% cheaper. Enough that people make the drive.

Against the coasts: cheap. The $440,500 house that's $1.2 million in Los Angeles or $850,000 in Seattle rewrites the math. The 4.40% flat income tax beats California's 9.3%, and the 0.50% property tax rate is a fraction of what New Jersey or Texas homeowners pay.

The city makes the most financial sense for people earning a Denver-level salary while paying Colorado Springs prices. Remote workers and military families pull this off more often than anyone else.

---

*Touring downtown apartments? Avian is a LEED Silver certified community at 217 S. Weber St. in downtown Colorado Springs. Floor plans start at $1,535, with a rooftop spa, fitness center, and covered parking. [Schedule a tour](/contact) to walk the building and see the views.*

## Common questions

### How much do utilities cost in Colorado Springs?

Utilities in Colorado Springs run about 21% below the national average. A standard 915-square-foot apartment costs roughly $200 a month for electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage combined.
### What do groceries cost in Colorado Springs?

Groceries are about 3% above the national average. A single person spends about $350–$420 a month. A family of four runs $900–$1,100.
### What salary do you need to live in Colorado Springs?

A single person needs roughly $50,800 a year. A family of four needs about $84,240. That covers rent, food, transportation, healthcare, and a savings buffer.
### Is Colorado Springs expensive?

Colorado Springs costs about 10% more than the national average, but is 8.7% cheaper than Denver including rent, and far cheaper than coastal cities. Housing drives the premium; utilities, healthcare, and transportation sit near or below the national baseline.