CostIndexUSA

Colorado Springs, CO vs Riverside, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Colorado Springs
100.7
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Colorado Springs is moderately cheaper than Riverside — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Colorado Springs, you would need $84,500 in Riverside. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.3%
Colorado Springs
116.2
Riverside
129.3
🛒 Groceries+5.5%
Colorado Springs
96.1
Riverside
101.4
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Colorado Springs
104.8
Riverside
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Colorado Springs
94.8
Riverside
96.2
Utilities+78.6%
Colorado Springs
83.2
Riverside
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Colorado Springs to see what you'd need to earn in Riverside to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Riverside, CA
$84,500
$4,500 more needed in Riverside

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 100.7) = salary × 1.0566. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Colorado Springs, CO

Median Home Price
$448,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
116.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.3×

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Riverside has 11.3% higher housing costs compared to Colorado Springs.

Income & Job Market

Colorado Springs, CO

Median Household Income
$89,800
Per Capita Income
$51,200
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
478,961
Top Industries
MilitaryAerospaceTechnologyHealthcareTourism

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Colorado Springs, CO
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.