CITY COMPARISON
Los Angeles vs Denver Cost of Living: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Data updated May 2026. Rent from Zillow ZORI, taxes from the Tax Foundation, cost-of-living index from BEA.
Los Angeles to Denver became a steady California-exit route, especially for workers who wanted four seasons and mountain access without abandoning a major-metro job market.
California's top income tax bracket is among the highest in the country. Colorado uses a flat rate in the low single digits. Denver rent is meaningfully lower than LA's, and the cost of living is lower too.
Is Los Angeles or Denver cheaper to live in?
At a $100,000 salary, moving from Los Angeles to Denver frees up roughly $19,900 a year in disposable income. At $150,000 the gap widens to about $22,300 a year in Denver's favor.
Denver wins clearly. A flat low single-digit income tax instead of California's top bracket, lower rent, and a lower cost of living. Los Angeles only competes for careers physically rooted in the city.
DISPOSABLE INCOME: MOVING LOS ANGELES → DENVER
AT A $100,000 SALARY
in Denver's favor
AT A $150,000 SALARY
in Denver's favor
Assumes the same gross salary in both cities (the remote-work case) and a single filer renting at the local median. Positive means Denver leaves more money after tax, housing, and everyday costs.
Full cost breakdown: Los Angeles vs Denver
Here is where every dollar goes in each city, at two salary levels. Taxes, housing, and everyday costs are all in.
AT A $100,000 SALARY
| Line item | Los Angeles | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$15,000 | -$15,000 |
| State income tax (9.3%) Denver: (4.4%) | -$9,300 | -$4,400 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$7,650 | -$7,650 |
| Housing (median rent) ($2,260/mo) Denver: ($1,470/mo) | -$27,120 | -$17,640 |
| Other living costs (COL index 161) Denver: (COL index 128) | -$39,150 | -$34,200 |
| Sales tax on spending (8.85%) Denver: (7.8%) | -$2,425 | -$1,867 |
| Disposable income / year | -$645 | $19,243 |
AT A $150,000 SALARY
| Line item | Los Angeles | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$27,000 | -$27,000 |
| State income tax (9.3%) Denver: (4.4%) | -$13,950 | -$6,600 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$11,475 | -$11,475 |
| Housing (median rent) ($2,260/mo) Denver: ($1,470/mo) | -$27,120 | -$17,640 |
| Other living costs (COL index 161) Denver: (COL index 128) | -$39,150 | -$34,200 |
| Sales tax on spending (8.85%) Denver: (7.8%) | -$2,425 | -$1,867 |
| Disposable income / year | $28,880 | $51,218 |
Los Angeles vs Denver: taxes, rent, and schools at a glance
| Metric | Los Angeles | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 9.3% | 4.4% |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $2,260/mo | $1,470/mo |
| Combined sales tax | 8.85% | 7.8% |
| Cost-of-living index (US avg = 100) | 161 | 128 |
| School composite rating (1-10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Who should pick Los Angeles?
Stay in Los Angeles if you are in entertainment or a field that needs the city itself. The California tax bill is steep, so the upside has to justify it specifically.
Who should pick Denver?
Pick Denver if you want a major metro with mountain access and a much lighter tax burden. The city has a real and varied job market, so the move does not depend on remote work.
How we calculated this
Disposable income is gross salary minus federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, housing, everyday non-housing costs, and sales tax on discretionary spending. Federal tax uses 2026 effective rates after the standard deduction for a single filer. State income tax is a single-bracket approximation for mid-six-figure earners. Housing is the median 1-bedroom rent. Non-housing costs scale with the BEA cost-of-living index. Sales tax is applied to roughly 70 percent of discretionary spending, since groceries and many services are reduced-rate or exempt in most states.
The numbers on this page assume the same gross salary in both cities. That is the remote-work scenario, and it is the cleanest way to isolate the cost-of-living difference. If a new job would rebase your salary by city, plug both real offers into the tool below.
Run your own Los Angeles vs Denver numbers
The interactive Move-To-City tool lets you set different salaries for each city, enter your actual rent, switch filing status, and see the full FIRE-timeline impact of the move.
Open the Move-To-City tool →KEEP READING
Educational only, not financial advice. Cost-of-living estimates are modeled approximations from public data and will not match any individual budget exactly. Verify rent, tax, and salary figures for your own situation before making a move.