Median rent is 11% lower in Denver ($1,770/mo vs $1,998/mo). Buying is cheaper in Denver, where the median home runs $586,700 versus $912,100. Households earn more in Seattle ($121,984 vs $91,681 a year).
City A
Denver, CO
City B
Seattle, WA
How much would you need to earn in Seattle, WA to maintain your standard of living from Denver, CO?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Denver
Colorado
Seattle
Washington
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Denver at $1,770/mo compared to $1,998/mo in Seattle (11% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Seattle: the median home is $912,100 versus $586,700 in Denver — 36% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Washington has no state income tax, while Colorado tops out at 4.40% — giving Seattle a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 2.90% in Colorado and 6.50% in Washington; Denver has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Denver
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 2.90%
Seattle
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.50%
Denver has cleaner air on average: 33.0 AQI (Good) compared to 37.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Seattle if you prioritize higher median household income ($121,984/yr).
Pick Denver if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,770/mo median).
Pick Seattle if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Denver cheaper than Seattle?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Denver vs Seattle?
Median rent is $1,770/mo in Denver, CO and $1,998/mo in Seattle, WA. Denver, CO has the lower rent by about 11%.
Which has higher salaries — Denver or Seattle?
Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $121,984 in Seattle, WA. Seattle, WA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Denver, CO has better air quality on average: 33.0 AQI versus 37.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Denver or Seattle?
Washington has no state income tax. Colorado has a top rate of 4.40%.
What salary do I need in Seattle to match my Denver income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology