City comparison
Boulder, CO vs Hartford, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boulder, CO are 2.4% higher than in Hartford, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Hartford, CT would need about $102,400 in Boulder, CO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,795 a month in Boulder, CO versus $1,477 in Hartford, CT. On $100,000, that's 29% of take-home pay in Boulder, CO and 24% in Hartford, CT.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,692 a year in CO and $3,925 in CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.2% moving from Boulder, CO to Hartford, CT ($118,675 → $120,094), while prices change by −2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.6% in real buying power.
- Boulder, CO: price level 105.2 (pricier)
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Boulder, CO | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.2 | 102.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,665 in Hartford | $102,390 in Boulder |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,795/mo | $1,477/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 29% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $69,580 | $59,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Boulder, CO MSA and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA. Metro areas: Boulder, CO and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boulder | Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 157.0 | 110.2 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 82.7 | 144.9 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 105.2 | 102.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boulder, CO → Hartford, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$233/yr.
76 Strong offer
Hartford, CT → Boulder, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.3%; rent takes 29% of take-home; state tax −$233/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boulder, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Hartford, CT is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Boulder, CO to Hartford, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boulder, CO | Hartford, CT | Real change, Boulder → Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $69,642 | +3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $84,260 | +3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $100,992 | +3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $120,094 | +3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $141,915 | +3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boulder, CO | Hartford, CT | Hartford pay in Boulder dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,640 | $79,800 | $81,708 (+1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $164,560 | $132,520 | $135,688 (−17.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,990 | $95,940 | $98,233 (−1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,290 | $101,470 | $103,895 (+0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.