Washington, DC vs Denver, CO

Denver is moderately more affordable than Washington, with a 11.9% lower cost of living index. Washington scores 155 compared to 139 for Denver, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Washington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Washington is $1,900/month compared to $1,770/month in Denver — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Denver is more affordable at $586,700 median vs $724,600.

Median household income in Washington is $106,287 compared to $91,681 in Denver (+15.9%). While Washington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Washington spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, less than the 23.2% in Denver.