Is Colorado Springs cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Colorado Springs is $1,735 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 17% cheaper. Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Colorado Springs or Denver?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 137 in Colorado Springs and 137 in Denver (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Colorado Springs or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Colorado Springs and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO

Colorado Springs, CO versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $79,026 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Colorado Springs takes affordability and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Colorado Springs leads by 19% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Colorado Springs can feel further apart than Colorado Springs and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Colorado Springs and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Colorado Springs report Full Denver report

Colorado Springs, CO

Rent: $1,735/mo
Median income: $79,026
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 77°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

17% cheaper

Colorado Springs rent is 17% cheaper than Denver

Colorado Springs

Winner

$1,735/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,089 in Denver, so Colorado Springs is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,248 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Colorado Springs still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

9% higher

Denver's median income is 9% higher than Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs

$79,026

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $79,026 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Denver — about $6,827 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

Neck and neck

Colorado Springs and Denver are about even on crime index.

Colorado Springs

137 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Colorado Springs and Denver post similar crime indexes (137 vs 137, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Colorado Springs and Denver are about even on school scores.

Colorado Springs

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Colorado Springs, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

19% more comfortable

Colorado Springs weather is 19% more comfortable than Denver

Colorado Springs

Winner

77°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Colorado Springs scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 77°F in Colorado Springs and 82°F in Denver. Colorado Springs reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Colorado Springs is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Colorado Springs

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,735 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Colorado Springs if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 19%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Colorado Springs is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Colorado Springs report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Colorado Springs vs Denver, called

If weather is your priority, Colorado Springs is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Colorado Springs offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Colorado Springs vs Denver FAQ

Is Colorado Springs cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Colorado Springs is $1,735 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 17% cheaper. Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Colorado Springs or Denver?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 137 in Colorado Springs and 137 in Denver (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Colorado Springs or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Colorado Springs and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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