City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Greeley, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Colorado Springs, CO (100.7) and Greeley, CO (100.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO goes as far as $99,500 in Greeley, CO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,238 in Greeley, CO. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO and 20% in Greeley, CO.
- Both are in CO, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,692 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.6% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Greeley, CO ($109,246 → $118,675), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.2% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
- Greeley, CO: price level 100.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Colorado Springs, CO | Greeley, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 100.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,473 in Greeley | $100,530 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,238/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $55,070 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver-Aurora, CO |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Greeley, CO MSA. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Greeley, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Greeley |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 112.6 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 82.0 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 100.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Greeley, CO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
70 Strong offer
Greeley, CO → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Greeley, CO is in Denver-Aurora, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Greeley, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Greeley, CO | Real change, Colorado Springs → Greeley |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $68,819 | +9.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $83,265 | +9.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $99,800 | +9.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $118,675 | +9.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $140,239 | +9.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Greeley, CO | Greeley pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $60,160 | $60,479 (−1.1%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $129,480 | $130,166 (−3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $87,240 | $87,702 (+3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $96,300 | $96,810 (+0.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.