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Colorado cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Colorado has a cost-of-living index of 101.8 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $50,900, median household income of $97,113, combined average sales tax about 7.89%, and regular gas about $3.895/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index101.8100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$50,900
Median HH income$97,113
Sales tax (comb.)7.89%
Gas (87 octane)$3.895/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest cityDenver (716,577)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Flat 4.4%

Sales tax: 2.9% state (combined avg. ~7.89%)

Major industries: Technology, aerospace, tourism/outdoors, energy, agriculture

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~88°F (July, Denver area) · Winter low ~18°F (January, Denver area)

Culture (context)

Denver Art Museum / Red Rocks

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What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 101.8 in Colorado. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 101.8% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Colorado vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for Colorado's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare Colorado with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

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Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is Colorado's cost of living index?

Colorado's cost-of-living index is 101.8 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Colorado?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $50,900 for Colorado.

What is median household income in Colorado?

Median household income in Colorado is $97,113 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Colorado?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Colorado is 7.89%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Colorado have a state income tax?

State income tax in Colorado: Flat 4.4%.

What was regular gas in Colorado in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.895 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Colorado's cost-of-living index?

The index is 101.8 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 101.8% of that salary to buy the same basket in Colorado in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.