F
26%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
75%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Brighton Colorado National
Cost of living126111100
Goods & Services112104100
Groceries102101100
Health care119106100
Housing175136100
Transportation9897100
Utilities8788100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Brighton, CO

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Brighton is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Brighton is 126, which is 26% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Brighton may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Brighton falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

When it comes to the cost of living in Brighton, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 75.5% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Brighton, you you will have to spend 12% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Is Brighton Affordable?

Is Brighton an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Brighton is 88.4% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 45.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Brighton has a median household income of $109,316, which is 34.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brighton?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Brighton, healthcare costs are 19% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Brighton, the groceries index registers 2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Brighton, the utilities index is 13% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Brighton cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brighton is 14% higher than the Colorado average
  • The cost of living in Brighton is 26% higher than the national average
  • Brighton housing is 75% higher than the national average
  • Colorado general sales tax is 43% lower than the national average
  • Colorado state income tax is 69% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Brighton

See all the best places to live around Brighton

Compare Brighton, CO Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$139,060$11,588$3,245$4,172
      Renters$77,598$6,467$1,810$2,328
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Brighton, CO, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Brighton, homeowners have a median income of $139,060. Using that number, a maximum of $3,245 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $77,598, which means there is a maximum of $1,810 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Colorado Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Colorado 2.9% 10%

      Colorado Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Colorado 4.4% 4.4%

      Goods & Services

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.43$27.6213.8%
      Beauty Salon $53.27$51.114.2%
      Toothpaste $3.99$4.092.5%
      Shampoo $1.44$1.546.6%
      Movie $16.84$12.8830.8%
      Yoga $23.13$19.6617.6%

      Groceries

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.33$7.708.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.55$1.666.8%
      Milk $4.64$4.732.0%
      Potatoes $5.52$5.265.0%
      Pizza $14.46$12.7613.3%
      Beer $10.69$10.551.3%

      Health Care

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $177.17$140.0626.5%
      Doctor $138.91$153.829.7%
      Dentist $148.76$123.1520.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.89$11.731.3%
      Lipitor $34.26$23.6145.1%

      Housing

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $615,274.00$326,622.0088.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,077.56$2,480.2524.1%
      Apartment Rent $2,099.00$1,444.0045.4%

      Transportation

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.04$3.060.7%
      Tire Balancing $62.86$65.213.6%

      Utilities

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $172.42$220.1221.7%
      Phone $198.90$195.711.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lakeside, CO68911.4%
      Federal Heights, CO14,024945.8%
      North Washington, CO676991.4%
      Derby, CO9,36511010.0%
      Hudson, CO2,75511312.9%
      Brighton, CO39,40612626.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Brookfield, WI39,41512020.4%
      Tupelo, MS39,3848515.0%
      East Meadow, NY39,37815656.1%
      Florence, SC39,448946.2%
      Lynnwood, WA39,45414746.6%
      Brighton, CO39,40612626.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.