CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Worcester, MA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableMA
Worcester
102.5
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Worcester is slightly cheaper than Denver — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $77,500 in Worcester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.1%
Denver
146.9
Worcester
113
🛒 Groceries4.0%
Denver
101
Worcester
97
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Denver
104.4
Worcester
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Denver
94.5
Worcester
96.1
Utilities+76.6%
Denver
87.9
Worcester
155.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Worcester, MA
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Worcester

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9688. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

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

Worcester, MA

Median Home Price
$461,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
113
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Denver has 23.1% lower housing costs compared to Worcester.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

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

Worcester, MA

Median Household Income
$94,100
Per Capita Income
$53,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
206,518
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

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

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Worcester, MA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.