Cost of Living in Colorado Springs (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Colorado Springs? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, downtown or Old Colorado CityUSD 1,300–1,700 / month

One-bed apartment, east side near Powers BoulevardUSD 1,100–1,400 / month

Colorado Springs Utilities — one bill for electricity, gas, water and wastewaterUSD 180–300 / month for a small home, higher in a cold January

Groceries, one personUSD 350–480 / month

Mountain Metro 31-day bus ticketUSD 63 / month; USD 1.75 cash per ride, USD 4 day pass

Lunch at a Tejon Street restaurantUSD 15–22

Good to know

Population

≈490,000 in the city; ≈760,000 across El Paso County

Languages

English; Spanish is the main second language

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Time zone

MST (GMT-7); MDT (GMT-6) from mid-March to early November

Power plug

Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz

Climate

Semi-arid highland — very sunny, cold snowy winters, warm dry summers, and violent afternoon hail

Driving side

Right

Altitude

1,839 m (6,035 ft) — about 755 ft higher than Denver

Sales tax

8.20% in the city: 3.07% city, 2.90% state, 1.23% county, 1% regional transport (PPRTA)

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Colorado Springs checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.