CostIndexUSA

Bend, OR vs Denver, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Bend is slightly cheaper than Denver — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bend, you would need $81,700 in Denver. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+33.5%
Bend
110
Denver
146.9
🛒 Groceries4.1%
Bend
105.3
Denver
101
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Bend
105.3
Denver
104.4
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Bend
95.3
Denver
94.5
Utilities16.3%
Bend
105
Denver
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Denver, CO
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Denver

Formula: salary × (105.8 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 1.0212. 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×

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Denver has 33.5% 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

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

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)

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.