The short answer for 2026, based on Colorado's cost of living adjusted for Denver housing, plus what people actually earn.
The typical Denver household earns about $78,200, which is 5% below the $82,000 a comfortable lifestyle costs here. A median local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
| Lifestyle | Salary needed |
|---|---|
| Modest (single, essentials covered) | $54,500 |
| Comfortable (average-state lifestyle) | $82,000 |
| Very comfortable (room to save) | $109,000 |
| Median rent in Denver | $1,495/mo |
Figures scale each benchmark by an estimated Denver cost index: Colorado's BLISS score (1.17) adjusted for Denver's median home price ($459,100) versus the statewide median ($568,000). Housing drives most city-to-city differences; other spending uses the state average. Estimates, not advice. Actual needs vary by neighborhood and household size.
A salary is not what you keep. See your actual paycheck after Colorado and federal taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›About $82,000 a year. That matches the lifestyle $75,000 buys in an average U.S. state, using Colorado's BLISS cost score adjusted for Denver housing prices. A modest single-person budget is closer to $54,500, and $109,000 is very comfortable with room to save.
About $78,200 a year. That is 5% below the $82,000 a comfortable lifestyle costs here, so a typical local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
Denver's estimated cost of living is 9% above the U.S. average. The typical Denver home runs $459,100, which is 19% below Colorado's statewide median, and Colorado overall ranks #43 of 50 for affordability (#1 = cheapest).