Idaho Springs's 2025 cost of living is $3248 per month for singles and $7153 per month for families of four.
Living costs in Idaho Springs are 31% higher than the U.S. national average and 942% higher than Colorado's state average.
This reflects a 0% increase from 2024.
The primary drivers of Idaho Springs's cost of living are soaring housing costs, elevated transportation expenses, and rising food prices.
See how Idaho Springs's cost of living affects your budget or salary needs with Salary.com's free Cost of Living Calculator.
Cost of Living Calculator
How does Idaho Springs's cost of living compare to the national average in 2025?
Living in Idaho Springs is more expensive than the national average,
with housing costs 16.4 % higher at $1397
per month for a single person and $2561 per month for a family of four.
Food expenses run 2.0 %
below average at $392
monthly for an individual and $1274 for a family,
while energy, transportation and healthcare costs are 14.2 % higher at about $999 per month
for one person and $2263 for a household.
These costs bring the total monthly expenses to $2788
for a single person and $6098 for a family of four,
making Idaho Springs one of America's most expensive cities.
How does the cost of living compare when moving from other major cities to Idaho Springs?
Idaho Springs's 2025 cost of living is 44% lower than San Francisco,
9% less than Washington, 11% above Miami
, 14% higher than Chicago, 17% less than Boston
, and 33% below New York.
Essential for evaluating relocation costs and salary needs in Idaho Springs.
The City of Idaho Springs is a Statutory City in the western United States, the most populous municipality in Clear Creek County, Colorado. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,717. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some 30 miles (50 km) west of Denver. Local legend is that the name of the city derived from annual visits to the radium hot springs made by a Native American chief and his tribe who journeyed there each year from Idaho to bathe in the magic healing waters.
Founded 160 years ago in 1859 by prospectors during the early ...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
Comments about the cost of living in Idaho Springs, CO
Buying a home and the cost of living
If you want to buy a home in the beautiful state of Colorado, you will find that it is one of the highest residential home markets in the country. Purchasing a home can be a lengthy and complex process. Besides the down payment, which is usually 15-20% of the selling price, there will be closing costs. If you own a home in your former location the sale of that home needs to be completed as well. Once you have purchased and moved into your new home, there will be utility and maintenance costs as well as property taxes and home insurance that will contribute to your cost of living. The advantages of living in Colorado are many, but the high cost of buying a home is not one of them. (2025-07-24salary.com)
Rent vs Buy: Renting could be the better choice for a lower cost of living
The largest contributor to any cost of living estimate is housing. Understanding the housing market and costs for a location can be complex. Renting can give you a chance to try out a location before making the major commitment of buying a home. In Colorado, renting a home can actually be more economical than buying. Renting generally has fewer up-front costs and items like maintenance and utilities are generally included, eliminating that responsibility and expense could potentially leave you with more disposable income and a lower cost of living. (2025-07-24salary.com)
Healthcare access and affordability and your cost of living
Colorado is ranked number 26 out of all states in overall healthcare access and affordability.
Healthcare costs make up a significant part of the cost of living. The ability to afford healthcare as well as the ability to access care are key indicators of how much you will be paying for this important resource if you move to another state. Affordability is generally measured by the rates set for insurance coverage in a state, as well as the out-of-pocket expenses that need to be paid by you when receiving the care. If rates or out-of-pocket expenses are high, your cost of living will increase. Access to healthcare is how easy or difficult it may be to receive the care. Access is measured by identifying barriers that might prevent the delivery of care such as the inability to obtain insurance coverage, having to travel long distances to health care centers and lack of sufficient facilities and/or healthcare professionals. The timeliness of care, how fast you can get to see a healthcare provider, is another important measure.
(2025-07-24salary.com)
Cost of Living Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cost of Living index and how is it used?
In the simplest terms, a Cost of Living index is the estimated amount that represents the cost of the basic necessities required for an individual to live. A cost of living or COL estimate may typically include estimates for housing, food, energy, medical care, transportation, taxes, and other necessities. A COL index may be used to measure what the cost difference would be for a person living in a certain location compared to another location. This cost of living comparison helps individuals make decisions about where they would like to live and what they can afford based on the costs in that location. A cost of living comparison can provide guidance about how an increase or decrease in these basic living expenses impacts necessary spending for an individual or a family.
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What factors are included in estimating your cost of living?
The Salary.com cost of living calculator estimate is based on data related to five general categories: housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and energy. These are the universally recognized core components of any cost of living estimate and represent those expenses that apply to everyone. Obviously, there may be other factors that could contribute to your particular cost of living situation and not everyone has the same spending habits. For example, education and/or childcare costs might not apply to everyone, but for those who have those expenses, they could be significant and should be considered when you evaluate your cost of living comparison.
(2025-07-24salary.com)
The Salary.com cost of living calculator is unique in that it also incorporates current salary data for thousands of jobs specific to a chosen home or work location to provide a more refined estimate of the cost of living variations. You can see how your job and your salary will be impacted by a change of location. If you live in one location but work in another, the cost of living calculator will make those adjustments to provide an accurate estimate of the change in COL. The Salary.com cost of living calculator helps you to make cost of living comparisons cost comparisons easily and quickly.
(2025-07-24salary.com)
Use our Salary Converter Tool, a user-friendly resource designed to see how much your salary will be if converted into hourly/weekly/biweekly/monthly/yearly pay. With just a few clicks, you can gain valuable insights into your earning potential, ensuring you make informed financial decisions.
Use our Salary Converter Tool, a user-friendly resource designed to see how much your salary will be if converted into hourly/weekly/biweekly/monthly/yearly pay. With just a few clicks, you can gain valuable insights into your earning potential, ensuring you make informed financial decisions.