Buena Vista, CO vs Ouray, CO

Ouray is moderately more affordable than Buena Vista, with a 11.4% lower cost of living index. Buena Vista scores 122 compared to 110 for Ouray, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Buena Vista can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Buena Vista is $1,519/month compared to $962/month in Ouray — a 58% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ouray has cheaper rent, Buena Vista actually has lower median home values ($495,800 vs $549,200).

Median household income in Buena Vista is $58,409 compared to $76,458 in Ouray (-23.6%). Ouray offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Buena Vista spend roughly 31.2% of their income on rent, more than the 15.1% in Ouray. The Ouray ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.