DenverMoney Index August 2026
"Mountain living, mountain prices."
Denver — Money Index — Key Facts
- Financial Stress: 50/100. Money stress in Denver sits at 50/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- 15% Savings Rate. Denver households save about 15% of income — well above the ~8% US average. Quiet wealth, compounding fast.
- 51% Own Their Home. Only 51% of Denver households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- Work-Life Balance: 64/100. Denver scores 64/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- Happiness Score: 74/100. Residents rate life in Denver a 74/100 — one of the happiest big metros in the country.
- Median Household: $88k. Denver households earn about $88k — roughly 17% above the US average.
- Cost of Living: 128. Denver is about 28% more expensive than the typical US city. A $75k salary here feels more like $59k elsewhere.
- Ranked #3 of 50. Denver ranks #3 of 50 on the PickYourBank US City Money Index — a blend of savings rate, income, affordability, happiness and work-life balance.
- 26-Minute Commute. Denver's one-way commute averages 26 minutes — right around the US norm. Roughly 199 hours a year on the road.
- 8% of Land Is Parks. Only about 8% of Denver's land is parkland — well below the big-city median. Outdoor recreation costs more here.
Denver has become one of the most expensive cities in the interior US — but high earners still bank big savings rates.
With a median household income of ~$88k, a 15% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 128, Denver ranks #3 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
Only ~8% of Denver's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Denver's average commute (~26 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Denver household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Denver's cost of living and savings rate.
How Denver feels about money
Four Denver money truths
Denver's savings rate runs 15% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Denver runs above the US average, so price discipline matters more here than in most metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Colorado residents in Denver report a 74/100 happiness score with stress at 50/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Denver-area home prices have more than doubled since 2015."
Money lessons from Denver
- 1
Outdoor lifestyle ≠ no budget
- 2
Track your real annual burn
- 3
Move savings to 20%+ in your 30s
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Denver money FAQ
Is Denver, Colorado a good city for saving money?+
Denver households save about 15% of income, with a happiness score of 74/100 and a work-life balance score of 64/100. Denver has become one of the most expensive cities in the interior US — but high earners still bank big savings rates.
What is the median household income in Denver?+
The median household income in Denver, Colorado is roughly $88,000 per year. About 58% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Denver?+
Denver's cost of living index sits at 128 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 51%.
How long is the average commute in Denver?+
Denver's average commute (~26 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
How much urban green space does Denver have?+
Only ~8% of Denver's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
What money personality fits Denver?+
The Optimist — Trusts the future and invests through every dip.
What's surprising about money in Denver?+
Denver-area home prices have more than doubled since 2015.
