| Index | Durango | Colorado | National |
| Cost of living | 137 | 115 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 107 | 100 |
| Housing | 228 | 136 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 107 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 95 | 111 | 100 |

The cost of living in Durango affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Durango is 137, which is 37% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Durango is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Durango falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Durango cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 127.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Wondering if Durango is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Durango, for example, the median home price is 167.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 34.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Durango boasting a median household income of $95,621, which is 17.6% higher than the national average.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Durango, the housing index stands at 127.9% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Durango, the groceries index is 0.5% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Durango are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $129,103 | $10,759 | $3,012 | $3,873 |
| Renters | $69,730 | $5,811 | $1,627 | $2,092 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Colorado | 2.9% | 10% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Colorado | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ignacio, CO | 1,441 | 99 | 0.5% |
| Southern Ute, CO | 205 | 125 | 25.0% |
| Durango, CO | 20,083 | 137 | 36.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lynbrook, NY | 20,075 | 150 | 49.6% |
| Angleton, TX | 20,095 | 93 | 6.6% |
| Franconia, VA | 20,097 | 140 | 39.7% |
| Monroe, WA | 20,065 | 137 | 37.2% |
| Pinole, CA | 20,062 | 164 | 64.3% |
| Durango, CO | 20,083 | 137 | 36.7% |