Mount Crested Butte, CO vs Wray, CO

The cost of living difference between Mount Crested Butte, CO and Wray, CO is dramatic. Wray is 70.5% cheaper than Mount Crested Butte, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Mount Crested Butte has a cost index of 136 while Wray sits at 80, 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 Mount Crested Butte is $1,717/month compared to $909/month in Wray — a 89% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wray is more affordable at $205,900 median vs $594,600.

Median household income in Mount Crested Butte is $93,182 compared to $57,318 in Wray (+62.6%). The higher salaries in Mount Crested Butte partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Mount Crested Butte spend roughly 22.1% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Wray.