Boston vs Denver Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses
To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Boston, you'd need about $97,700 in Denver — a $2,300 saving per year.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
Equivalent Salary: Boston → Denver
The salary you'd need in Denver to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Boston, using the BEA price ratio of 0.977.
| Salary in Boston | Equivalent in Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,800 | −$1,200 |
| $75,000 | $73,300 | −$1,700 |
| $100,000 | $97,700 | −$2,300 |
| $150,000 | $146,500 | −$3,500 |
| $200,000 | $195,400 | −$4,600 |
Boston vs Denver: What the Numbers Mean
Moving from Boston, MA to Denver, CO means your everyday costs are cheaper by roughly 2.3%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Boston's overall price level at 108.3 and Denver's at 105.8, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $5,551 per month in Boston would spend about $5,415 for the equivalent lifestyle in Denver — a swing of $136 every month, or $1,632 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,414 in Boston against $2,319 in Denver. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 2.3% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Boston has the same purchasing power as $97,700 in Denver. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Denver is worth about $102,400 in Boston terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Cost of living compares prices across places at one point in time. The related question — how prices in one place have changed over time — is answered by inflation. To see what an income or price from an earlier decade is worth in today's money, see what old money is worth today, which converts any amount from 1913 onward using Consumer Price Index data.
Don't forget state taxes
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between MA and CO.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denver more expensive than Boston?
Denver is 2.3% cheaper than Boston overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Boston has a price level of 108.3 versus 105.8 for Denver, where 100 equals the national average.
What salary do I need in Denver to match $100,000 in Boston?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Boston, you would need about $97,700 in Denver — a difference of $2,300 per year.
Which costs more, housing in Boston or Denver?
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,414 in Boston versus $2,319 in Denver. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.
Sources & methodology
Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2024, released February 2026). Boston maps to the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MSA; Denver maps to the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.