How much do you need to earn to live here, after U.S.A. takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once U.S.A.'s tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Denver is roughly $3,444/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think $4,325/month gross ($3,455 net after ~20% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,600 Cheapest neighborhood (Aurora) | $2,100 Median neighborhood | $2,350 Premium neighborhood (Cherry Creek) |
| Groceries | $525 | $630 | $788 |
| Transport | $114 | $114 | $114 |
| Utilities | $232 | $232 | $232 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $315 | $378 | $473 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $2,786 | $3,454 | $3,957 |
$3,444/month gross
$4,325/month gross
$4,986/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 9 neighborhoods in Denver.
Aurora
30 min by metro
$1,600 - $1,900
Lakewood
25 min by metro
$1,700 - $2,100
Capitol Hill
10 min by bus
$1,800 - $2,200
Cherry Creek
15 min by bus
$2,200 - $2,500
LoDo
5 min by walk
$2,200 - $2,500
Highlands
10 min by bus
$2,100 - $2,400
All 9 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore DenverPlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
Open calculatorTaxes, nearby cities, and side-by-sides.
We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after U.S.A.'s income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $3,444/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Denver. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $4,325/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for U.S.A..
The average 1-bedroom rent across 9 neighborhoods in Denver is approximately $2,106/month. Rents range from $1,600 in Aurora to $2,500 in Cherry Creek.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Denver cost approximately $525. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in U.S.A. are progressive. At the budget salary level of $3,444/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 19%. At the comfortable level of $4,325/month, it rises to approximately 20%. This includes income tax and social contributions.