Denver vs Arlington
Cost of Living (2026)

Arlington is 20% more affordable than Denver. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs Colorado's 4.55%.

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At a glance

Denver, CO

COL index118
State income tax4.55%
Avg 1BR rent$1,800/mo
Median home price$545K
VS

Arlington, TX

COL index94 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,280/mo ✓
Median home price$310K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryDenver indexArlington indexDifference
Housing154122 ✓-32%
Groceries11289 ✓-23%
Transportation11291 ✓-21%
Healthcare11491 ✓-23%
Utilities11091 ✓-19%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost. How we calculate this →

Salary equivalency: Denver → Arlington

What salary in Arlington gives you the same purchasing power as your Denver salary?

Salary in DenverEquivalent in ArlingtonDifference
$60,000$45,000$-15,000
$80,000$60,000$-20,000
$100,000$75,000$-25,000
$130,000$97,000$-33,000
$150,000$112,000$-38,000
$200,000$149,000$-51,000

Denver vs Arlington: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Denver, CO and Arlington, TX, Arlington comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 94 versus 118 for Denver — a difference of approximately 20%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving Arlington workers an immediate 4.55% take-home pay advantage over Denver workers who pay Colorado's 4.55% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Denver is $545,000, compared to $310,000 in Arlington. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,800/month in Denver versus $1,280/month in Arlington.

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