La Junta, CO vs Leadville, CO

The cost of living difference between La Junta, CO and Leadville, CO is dramatic. La Junta is 38.2% cheaper than Leadville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. La Junta has a cost index of 72 while Leadville sits at 116, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in La Junta is $709/month compared to $1,651/month in Leadville — a 57% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: La Junta is more affordable at $180,700 median vs $374,700.

Median household income in La Junta is $54,253 compared to $83,875 in Leadville (-35.3%). The higher salaries in Leadville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of La Junta spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 23.6% in Leadville.