Cost of Living in Mount Crested Butte, CO

With a cost of living index of 136, Mount Crested Butte, CO is a notably expensive place to live. Living here is 36% more expensive than the national average and 22% above the Colorado state average of 114. Mount Crested Butte is a small community of 829 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Mount Crested Butte's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,717 (30% above the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $594,600 (95% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 6.4x the median household income — a challenging ratio that puts homeownership out of reach for many residents.

The median household income in Mount Crested Butte is $93,182, which is 24% higher than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 22% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum. While incomes are above average, they do not fully offset the higher cost of living.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.