Denver vs Washington
Cost of Living (2026)

Denver is 29% less expensive than Washington.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Denver, CO

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

Washington, DC

COL index152
State income tax8.5%
Avg 1BR rent$2,700/mo
Median home price$680K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryDenver indexWashington indexDifference
Housing154 ✓200+46%
Groceries112 ✓143+31%
Transportation112 ✓142+30%
Healthcare114 ✓146+32%
Utilities110 ✓137+27%

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

Salary equivalency: Denver → Washington

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

Salary in DenverEquivalent in WashingtonDifference
$60,000$82,000+$22,000
$80,000$110,000+$30,000
$100,000$137,000+$37,000
$130,000$178,000+$48,000
$150,000$206,000+$56,000
$200,000$274,000+$74,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between Denver, CO and Washington, DC, Denver comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 118 versus 152 for Washington — a difference of approximately 29%.

State income tax impact

Denver workers pay 4.55% Colorado state income tax, while Washington workers pay 8.5%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Denver is $545,000, compared to $680,000 in Washington. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,800/month in Denver versus $2,700/month in Washington.

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