dayblip

Austin vs Denver

Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data

Compare a different city:

VS

QUICK ANSWER

Denver is 1% cheaper than Austin overall.Austin has a cost of living index of 119 vs Denver at 118 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is utilities Austin costs 13% more.

Pierre
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Austin
TX
119
COLI index
VS
Denver
CO
118
COLI index

Category Breakdown

CategoryAustinDenverDifference
Overall COLI119118-1%
Housing168168Same
Groceries106105-1%
Transport108110+2%
Healthcare103106+3%
Utilities11096-13%

Median 1BR Rent

Austin
$1,800/mo
Denver
$1,750/mo

Median Home Price

Austin
$510,000
Denver
$545,000

Median Household Income

Austin
$80,954
Denver
$72,173

Share Your Result

Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family

Frequently Asked Questions

Denver is cheaper to live in overall. Austin has a cost of living index of 119 while Denver has an index of 118, where 100 represents the US national average. Denver is 1% cheaper than Austin overall.

The median 1-bedroom rent in Austin is $1,800 per month compared to $1,750 in Denver. The median home price in Austin is $510,000 versus $545,000 in Denver. Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities.

Austin has a cost of living index of 119 and Denver has an index of 118, both measured against a US national average of 100. An index above 100 means more expensive than the national average — below 100 means cheaper.

To maintain the same purchasing power as a salary in Austin, multiply by 0.99. For example a $75,000 salary in Austin is equivalent to approximately $74,370 in Denver.

Austin has a median household income of $80,954 per year versus $72,173 in Denver. Higher incomes must be weighed against cost of living. Use the Dayblip salary tools to see specific job salaries in both cities.

Whether moving from Austin to Denver is worthwhile depends on your salary, lifestyle, and priorities. Denver is 1% cheaper overall — with the biggest difference in utilities. Use the Dayblip cost of living calculator to enter your specific salary and see the exact dollar impact.

Last updated: June 2026

Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.