Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Boulder, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

Boulder rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Boulder median rent
$2,439/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Colorado)
$104,696/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,725, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,617/mo in rent. Boulder's median rent of $2,439 leaves roughly $178/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Colorado cities have lower median rent than Boulder, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Highlands Ranch, CO
$2,435/mo (27.9% of income)
Highlands Ranch, CO
$2,430/mo (27.9% of income)
Steamboat Springs, CO
$2,429/mo (27.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Boulder

View full rent data for Boulder, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Boulder, CO?

Median rent in Boulder is $2,439 a month. A typical physical therapist in Colorado earns about $104,696 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Boulder?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Colorado (~$104,696/yr) supports up to $2,617 a month in rent. Boulder's current median rent is $2,439/mo, which leaves a $178/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Boulder?

At an hourly equivalent of about $50 an hour, a physical therapist in Colorado works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover Boulder's median rent of $2,439.

Where is rent cheaper than Boulder for a physical therapist?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Highlands Ranch ($2,435/mo), Highlands Ranch ($2,430/mo), Steamboat Springs ($2,429/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Colorado state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Boulder, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.