| Index | Fort Carson | Colorado | National |
| Cost of living | 128 | 115 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Health care | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Housing | 179 | 136 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Household Items | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 109 | 111 | 100 |

Understanding the cost of living in Fort Carson can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Fort Carson cost of living index is 128, which is 28% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Fort Carson 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, Fort Carson falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Fort Carson cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 79.1% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Fort Carson affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Fort Carson, for instance, where the median home price falls 100% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 79.1% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Fort Carson flaunting a median household income of $79,023, 2.8% lower than the national norm.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Fort Carson, healthcare costs are 5.9% 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.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
The Fort Carson cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Renters | $79,317 | $6,610 | $1,851 | $2,380 |
| 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. |
| Stratmoor, CO | 6,126 | 106 | 6.2% |
| Cimarron Hills, CO | 19,384 | 113 | 13.1% |
| Security-Widefield, CO | 39,796 | 115 | 14.9% |
| Fountain, CO | 31,205 | 118 | 18.1% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 481,855 | 121 | 21.0% |
| Fort Carson, CO | 16,843 | 128 | 27.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hazel Park, MI | 16,845 | 87 | 12.7% |
| Shelbyville, KY | 16,838 | 97 | 2.5% |
| Coos Bay, OR | 16,855 | 106 | 6.1% |
| New River, AZ | 16,857 | 134 | 34.3% |
| Port Washington, NY | 16,824 | 195 | 95.3% |
| Fort Carson, CO | 16,843 | 128 | 27.6% |