CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Denver, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Charlotte is moderately cheaper than Denver — 8.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $87,000 in Denver. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+50.5%
Charlotte
97.6
Denver
146.9
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
Charlotte
96.6
Denver
101
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Charlotte
103.1
Denver
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Charlotte
93.3
Denver
94.5
Utilities1.5%
Charlotte
89.2
Denver
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Denver, CO
$87,000
$7,000 more needed in Denver

Formula: salary × (105.8 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 1.0874. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Denver, CO

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

Denver has 50.5% higher housing costs compared to Charlotte.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

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).

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.