Cost of living in Boulder

In Boulder, United States, a family of four typically needs around $6368 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $2552 monthly.

How expensive is Boulder compared to other cities?

Boulder is 79% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Boulder compare to your city?

Boulder is 34% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Boulder is, on average, 39% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Boulder?

Who is Boulder a good fit for?

Boulder is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Boulder so expensive?

The high cost of living in Boulder is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Boulder?

Yes, food costs are 36% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living.

Is public transport affordable in Boulder?

Public transport is 10% higher than the European benchmark, making it less affordable compared to other regions.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2552 $
Without Rent
949 $
Rent & Utilities
1603 $
Food
650 $
Transport
83 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
5657 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
108.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 20.9 $
Dinner 85 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 7.04 $
Capuccino 5.28 $
Coke, 330ml 3.13 $

Compare Boulder with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.15 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.4 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.29 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.76 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.4 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.2 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.7 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.26 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.58 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.14 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.91 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.18 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.37 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.06 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.94 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.72 $
Cigarette pack 10.3 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.73 $
Monthly Pass 149 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.86 $
Taxi, 8 km 13.8 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 185 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 14 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 7.05 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 8.05 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 3.29 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 119 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 181 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 69.1 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,352 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,664 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,667 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 3,408 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 7,855 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 4,753 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 5,657 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.45%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 83.5 $
Cinema, 1 seat 16.5 $
Haircut 29.5 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 87.8 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 62 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,426 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 30,739 $

Compare Boulder with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Boulder vs George Town (George Town is 43% more expensive)
Bahamas
Boulder vs Nassau (Nassau is 8% more expensive) Boulder vs Freeport (Freeport is 14% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Boulder vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 8% less expensive) Boulder vs Luganville (Luganville is 20% more expensive)
United States
Boulder vs New York City (New York City is 59% more expensive) Boulder vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 25% more expensive) Boulder vs Chicago (Chicago is 5% more expensive) Boulder vs Houston (Houston is 12% less expensive) Boulder vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 7% less expensive) Boulder vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 0% less expensive) Boulder vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 14% less expensive) Boulder vs San Diego (San Diego is 31% more expensive) Boulder vs Dallas (Dallas is 0% less expensive) Boulder vs San Jose (San Jose is 44% more expensive)
Canada
Boulder vs Toronto (Toronto is 1% more expensive) Boulder vs Montreal (Montreal is 23% less expensive) Boulder vs Calgary (Calgary is 16% less expensive) Boulder vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 12% less expensive) Boulder vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 30% less expensive) Boulder vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 31% less expensive) Boulder vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 3% less expensive) Boulder vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 4% more expensive) Boulder vs Brampton (Brampton is 17% less expensive) Boulder vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 16% less expensive)
Barbados
Boulder vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 47% less expensive) Boulder vs Holetown (Holetown is 46% less expensive)
Panama
Boulder vs Panama City (Panama City is 46% less expensive) Boulder vs Colon (Colon is 54% less expensive) Boulder vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 52% less expensive) Boulder vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 59% less expensive) Boulder vs David (David is 67% less expensive) Boulder vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 63% less expensive) Boulder vs Balboa (Balboa is 51% less expensive) Boulder vs Pacora (Pacora is 51% less expensive) Boulder vs Chitre (Chitre is 57% less expensive) Boulder vs Penonome (Penonome is 57% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Boulder vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 51% less expensive) Boulder vs Cayon (Cayon is 51% less expensive)
Cuba
Boulder vs Havana (Havana is 60% less expensive) Boulder vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 45% less expensive) Boulder vs Holguin (Holguin is 50% less expensive) Boulder vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 40% less expensive) Boulder vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 59% less expensive) Boulder vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 54% less expensive) Boulder vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 39% less expensive) Boulder vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 39% less expensive) Boulder vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 57% less expensive) Boulder vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 66% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Boulder vs San Jose (San Jose is 51% less expensive) Boulder vs Limon (Limon is 53% less expensive) Boulder vs Liberia (Liberia is 65% less expensive) Boulder vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 52% less expensive) Boulder vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 50% less expensive) Boulder vs Cartago (Cartago is 62% less expensive) Boulder vs Heredia (Heredia is 51% less expensive) Boulder vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 34% less expensive) Boulder vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 49% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Boulder vs Castries (Castries is 55% less expensive) Boulder vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 53% less expensive)
Jamaica
Boulder vs Kingston (Kingston is 48% less expensive) Boulder vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 69% less expensive) Boulder vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 60% less expensive) Boulder vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 54% less expensive) Boulder vs May Pen (May Pen is 68% less expensive) Boulder vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 62% less expensive) Boulder vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 67% less expensive) Boulder vs Linstead (Linstead is 59% less expensive) Boulder vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 56% less expensive) Boulder vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 55% less expensive)
El Salvador
Boulder vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 53% less expensive) Boulder vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 72% less expensive) Boulder vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 54% less expensive) Boulder vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 58% less expensive) Boulder vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 55% less expensive) Boulder vs Apopa (Apopa is 55% less expensive) Boulder vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 53% less expensive) Boulder vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 43% less expensive) Boulder vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 57% less expensive) Boulder vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 65% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Boulder vs St. John's (St. John's is 58% less expensive) Boulder vs All Saints (All Saints is 58% less expensive)
Grenada
Boulder vs St. George's (St. George's is 58% less expensive) Boulder vs Grenville (Grenville is 58% less expensive)
Dominica
Boulder vs Roseau (Roseau is 61% less expensive) Boulder vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 55% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Boulder vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 62% less expensive) Boulder vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 61% less expensive)
Belize
Boulder vs Belize City (Belize City is 66% less expensive) Boulder vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 57% less expensive) Boulder vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 71% less expensive) Boulder vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 48% less expensive) Boulder vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 38% less expensive)
Guatemala
Boulder vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 61% less expensive) Boulder vs Mixco (Mixco is 75% less expensive) Boulder vs Coban (Coban is 64% less expensive) Boulder vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 70% less expensive) Boulder vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 65% less expensive) Boulder vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 65% less expensive) Boulder vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 66% less expensive) Boulder vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 66% less expensive) Boulder vs Flores (Flores is 66% less expensive) Boulder vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 69% less expensive)
Honduras
Boulder vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 68% less expensive) Boulder vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 59% less expensive) Boulder vs Choloma (Choloma is 77% less expensive) Boulder vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 75% less expensive) Boulder vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 65% less expensive) Boulder vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 66% less expensive) Boulder vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 72% less expensive) Boulder vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 72% less expensive) Boulder vs Yoro (Yoro is 71% less expensive) Boulder vs La Lima (La Lima is 66% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Boulder vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 69% less expensive) Boulder vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 59% less expensive) Boulder vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 70% less expensive) Boulder vs Higuey (Higuey is 70% less expensive) Boulder vs La Vega (La Vega is 78% less expensive) Boulder vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 67% less expensive) Boulder vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 71% less expensive) Boulder vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 79% less expensive) Boulder vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 76% less expensive) Boulder vs Bonao (Bonao is 79% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Boulder vs Managua (Managua is 70% less expensive) Boulder vs Leon (Leon is 75% less expensive) Boulder vs Masaya (Masaya is 72% less expensive) Boulder vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 78% less expensive) Boulder vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 75% less expensive) Boulder vs Esteli (Esteli is 77% less expensive) Boulder vs Granada (Granada is 73% less expensive) Boulder vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 82% less expensive) Boulder vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 74% less expensive) Boulder vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 65% less expensive)