Air Force Academy, CO vs Fort Carson, CO

Air Force Academy, CO and Fort Carson, CO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.4% difference in their overall index. Air Force Academy scores 127 while Fort Carson scores 121 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

Renters will find that Air Force Academy has a median rent of $2,223/month while Fort Carson comes in at $2,046/month, a 9% difference.

Median household income in Air Force Academy is $93,889 compared to $61,783 in Fort Carson (+52%). While Air Force Academy is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Air Force Academy spend roughly 28.4% of their income on rent, less than the 39.7% in Fort Carson. The Air Force Academy ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.