How much do you need to earn to live in Denver? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for U.S.A.'s tax system.
You need at least $3,444/month gross to live in Denver on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $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
1-bedroom second-hand 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
See all 9 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore DenverEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after U.S.A.'s income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
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.