Gilcrest, CO vs Leadville, CO

Gilcrest, CO and Leadville, CO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Gilcrest scores 115 while Leadville scores 116 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.

On the housing front, median rent in Gilcrest is $1,900/month compared to $1,651/month in Leadville — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Leadville has cheaper rent, Gilcrest actually has lower median home values ($287,000 vs $374,700).

Median household income in Gilcrest is $66,771 compared to $83,875 in Leadville (-20.4%). While Leadville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gilcrest spend roughly 34.1% of their income on rent, more than the 23.6% in Leadville. The Leadville ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.