CostIndexUSA

Bend, OR vs Boulder, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent

Bend is slightly cheaper than Boulder — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bend, you would need $81,200 in Boulder. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+42.7%
Bend
110
Boulder
157
🛒 Groceries8.7%
Bend
105.3
Boulder
96.1
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Bend
105.3
Boulder
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Bend
95.3
Boulder
94.8
Utilities21.2%
Bend
105
Boulder
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bend to see what you'd need to earn in Boulder to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Boulder, CO
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Boulder

Formula: salary × (105.2 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 1.0154. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bend, OR

Median Home Price
$653,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
110
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Boulder has 42.7% higher housing costs compared to Bend.

Income & Job Market

Bend, OR

Median Household Income
$91,700
Per Capita Income
$52,300
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
102,059
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailConstruction

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bend, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.