Golden, CO vs Gunbarrel, CO

Golden, CO and Gunbarrel, CO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.1% difference in their overall index. Golden scores 158 while Gunbarrel scores 158 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 Golden is $1,854/month compared to $1,924/month in Gunbarrel — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Golden has cheaper rent, Gunbarrel actually has lower median home values ($789,200 vs $790,500).

Median household income in Golden is $95,913 compared to $111,506 in Gunbarrel (-14%). While Gunbarrel is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Golden spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, more than the 20.7% in Gunbarrel.