Cortez, CO vs Montrose, CO

Cortez is moderately more affordable than Montrose, with a 13.7% lower cost of living index. Cortez scores 85 compared to 99 for Montrose, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Montrose can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cortez is $1,028/month compared to $1,117/month in Montrose — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cortez is more affordable at $226,700 median vs $359,000.

Median household income in Cortez is $51,377 compared to $63,177 in Montrose (-18.7%). While Montrose is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cortez spend roughly 24% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in Montrose.