CostIndexUSA

Colorado Springs, CO vs Salem, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Colorado Springs
100.7
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Colorado Springs is slightly cheaper than Salem — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Colorado Springs, you would need $82,300 in Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.1%
Colorado Springs
116.2
Salem
110.3
🛒 Groceries+9.6%
Colorado Springs
96.1
Salem
105.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Colorado Springs
104.8
Salem
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Colorado Springs
94.8
Salem
95.3
Utilities+25.8%
Colorado Springs
83.2
Salem
104.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Colorado Springs to see what you'd need to earn in Salem to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Salem, OR
$82,300
$2,300 more needed in Salem

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 100.7) = salary × 1.0288. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Colorado Springs, CO

Median Home Price
$448,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
116.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.3×

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Colorado Springs has 5.1% lower housing costs compared to Salem.

Income & Job Market

Colorado Springs, CO

Median Household Income
$89,800
Per Capita Income
$51,200
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
478,961
Top Industries
MilitaryAerospaceTechnologyHealthcareTourism

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Colorado Springs, CO
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.