| Index | Golden | Colorado | National |
| Cost of living | 152 | 115 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Housing | 253 | 136 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 111 | 107 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 117 | 111 | 100 |
The cost of living in Golden 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 Golden is 152, which is 52% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Golden is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Golden falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Golden 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 153.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Golden an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Golden, the median home price is 195.8% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 54.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Golden come in at $121,700, which is 49.6% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Golden, the groceries index is 3.8% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Golden, the general sales tax rate starts at 2.9%, and income tax rates begin at 4.4%.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Golden, healthcare costs are 8.8% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Golden shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $162,915 | $13,576 | $3,801 | $4,888 |
| Renters | $87,518 | $7,293 | $2,042 | $2,626 |
| 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. |
| Glendale CDP, CO | 80 | 109 | 9.1% |
| Eldorado Springs, CO | 332 | 109 | 8.9% |
| Lakeside, CO | 6 | 90 | 10.0% |
| Federal Heights, CO | 14,024 | 95 | 5.1% |
| North Washington, CO | 676 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Golden, CO | 21,021 | 152 | 51.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Columbia Heights, MN | 21,019 | 102 | 1.9% |
| Elko, NV | 21,024 | 108 | 7.9% |
| Hammond, LA | 21,033 | 95 | 4.5% |
| Bayshore Gardens, FL | 21,005 | 95 | 5.1% |
| Northfield, MN | 21,004 | 105 | 4.8% |
| Golden, CO | 21,021 | 152 | 51.9% |
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