CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Denver, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Abilene is significantly cheaper than Denver — 17.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $93,600 in Denver. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+99.1%
Abilene
73.8
Denver
146.9
🛒 Groceries+7.7%
Abilene
93.8
Denver
101
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Abilene
101.1
Denver
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Abilene
91.4
Denver
94.5
Utilities+8.3%
Abilene
81.2
Denver
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Denver to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Denver, CO
$93,600
$13,600 more needed in Denver

Formula: salary × (105.8 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 1.1704. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Denver has 99.1% higher housing costs compared to Abilene.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.