Cost of living in Boulder
compared to
#35
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 74 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in Boulder vs. United States overall average
Boulder is 17.1% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 23.2% more in Boulder
- Groceries
-
pay 1.9% less in Boulder
- Transportation
-
pay 26.8% more in Boulder
- Housing
-
pay 14.3% more in Boulder
- Childcare
-
pay 21.9% more in Boulder
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.4% more in Boulder
The cost of transportation, restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, and housing in Boulder are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including groceries and clothing are lower in Boulder.
Boulder Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $25.00 |
$20.00
$20.00
$30.00
$30.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.00 |
$10.00
$10.00
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $3.75 |
$3.00
$3.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.38 |
$2.00
$2.00
$3.50
$3.50
|
Boulder - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.61 |
$2.20
$2.20
$6.61
$6.61
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $6.61 |
$3.31
$3.31
$13.23
$13.23
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.82 |
$2.99
$2.99
$8.00
$8.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.50 |
$2.25
$2.25
$9.99
$9.99
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $6.78 |
$3.00
$3.00
$12.60
$12.60
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.04 |
$1.54
$1.54
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.67 |
$0.50
$0.50
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.69 |
$1.13
$1.13
$5.99
$5.99
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.16 |
$1.29
$1.29
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.20 |
$0.56
$0.56
$2.50
$2.50
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.16 |
$0.88
$0.88
$2.00
$2.00
|
Boulder - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.08 |
$2.70
$2.70
$3.58
$3.58
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $150.00 |
$88.00
$88.00
$200.00
$200.00
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $36,029.12 |
$23,422.83
$23K
$36,907.41
$37K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $13.70 |
$12.44
$12.44
$21.29
$21.29
|
Boulder - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$71.67 |
$45.00
$45.00
$120.00
$120.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $2,100.00 |
$1,800.00
$2K
$2,400.00
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,833.33 |
$1,500.00
$2K
$2,200.00
$2K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$146.62 |
$102.63
$102.63
$229.41
$229.41
|
Boulder - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,546.67 |
$1,433.33
$1K
$2,250.00
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $30,700.00 |
$30,700.00
$31K
$30,700.00
$31K
|
Boulder - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $6.25 |
$5.00
$5.00
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.62 |
$4.00
$4.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.00 |
$7.50
$7.50
$16.00
$16.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $79.22 |
$35.00
$35.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $16.50 |
$12.00
$12.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
Boulder - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$58.08 |
$45.00
$45.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.50 |
$30.00
$30.00
$60.00
$60.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.67 |
$75.00
$75.00
$120.00
$120.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $103.00 |
$75.00
$75.00
$300.00
$300.00
|
Boulder - Cost of clothing
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