CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Rochester is moderately cheaper than Denver — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $73,300 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing40.4%
Denver
146.9
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Denver
101
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Denver
104.4
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Denver
94.5
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+51.5%
Denver
87.9
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$73,300
$6,700 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9168. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

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

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Denver has 40.4% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

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

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.