Boulder, CO at a glance
Median household income
$87,493$7,291 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Boulder, CO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Boulder, CO MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,553 | $18,636 | $62,120 | 21.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,795 | $21,540 | $71,800 | 24.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,124 | $25,488 | $84,960 | 29.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,820 | $33,840 | $112,800 | 38.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,239 | $38,868 | $129,560 | 44.4% |
What a typical income covers in Boulder, CO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $87,493 a year ($7,291 a month before tax).
What $87,493 leaves after Colorado taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Colorado tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Colorado
Living in Boulder, CO: common questions
What is the median household income in Boulder, CO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Boulder, CO is $87,493 per year (approximately $7,291 per month).
What is the average rent in Boulder, CO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,553 for a studio, $1,795 for one bedroom, $2,124 for two, $2,820 for three and $3,239 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Boulder, CO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.2% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 105.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Boulder, CO?
To keep a $2,124 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $84,960 a year, or $7,080 a month. That is 97% of what the typical household in Boulder, CO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Boulder, CO?
On the local median income of $87,493 ($7,291 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,646 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,187 for everything else and $1,458 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,124 takes 58% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Boulder, CO?
Homes in Colorado paid 17.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $154. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.