How much rent can you afford in Boulder, CO?
Run your salary against Boulder's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Boulder
At a median rent of $2,370/mo, Boulder is moderately stretched when measured against Boulder median household income of $87,493/yr. Rent would consume roughly 33% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $94,800 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Boulder compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Boulder?
On a $87,493 salary (the Boulder median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,187/mo. Boulder's median rent is $2,370/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Boulder?
To keep Boulder's $2,370/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $94,800/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Boulder affordable on the median Colorado income?
Boulder is moderately stretched on a $87,493 income. Rent would take 33% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".