Rent Affordability for A Software Developer in Colorado

A typical software developer in Colorado earns about $145,016 a year, which supports approximately $3,625 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Colorado city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.

As of May 2026. 67 of 71 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 4 are rent-burdened on this salary.

CityMedian rent% of incomeAffordability
Sterling, CO$1,003/mo8.3%very comfortable
Alamosa, CO$1,095/mo9.1%very comfortable
Trinidad, CO$1,216/mo10.1%very comfortable
Clifton, CO$1,332/mo11%very comfortable
Manitou Springs, CO$1,325/mo11%very comfortable
Pueblo, CO$1,391/mo11.5%very comfortable
Greeley, CO$1,487/mo12.3%very comfortable
Northglenn, CO$1,509/mo12.5%very comfortable
Federal Heights, CO$1,505/mo12.5%very comfortable
Glendale, CO$1,520/mo12.6%very comfortable
Grand Junction, CO$1,732/mo14.3%very comfortable
Dakota Ridge, CO$1,727/mo14.3%very comfortable
Evans, CO$1,738/mo14.4%very comfortable
Cortez, CO$1,746/mo14.4%very comfortable
Colorado Springs, CO$1,749/mo14.5%very comfortable
Aurora, CO$1,752/mo14.5%very comfortable
Lakewood, CO$1,803/mo14.9%very comfortable
Fruita, CO$1,800/mo14.9%very comfortable
Englewood, CO$1,866/mo15.4%very comfortable
Cherry Creek, CO$1,868/mo15.5%very comfortable
Denver, CO$1,884/mo15.6%very comfortable
Westminster, CO$1,887/mo15.6%very comfortable
Stratmoor, CO$1,885/mo15.6%very comfortable
Thornton, CO$1,904/mo15.8%very comfortable
Loveland, CO$1,910/mo15.8%very comfortable
Longmont, CO$1,922/mo15.9%very comfortable
Fort Collins, CO$1,943/mo16.1%very comfortable
Meridian, CO$1,940/mo16.1%very comfortable
Wheat Ridge, CO$1,952/mo16.2%very comfortable
Durango, CO$1,982/mo16.4%very comfortable
Lone Tree, CO$1,988/mo16.5%very comfortable
Brighton, CO$2,001/mo16.6%very comfortable
Montrose, CO$2,026/mo16.8%very comfortable
Littleton, CO$2,047/mo16.9%very comfortable
Fountain, CO$2,056/mo17%very comfortable
Broomfield, CO$2,081/mo17.2%very comfortable
Johnstown, CO$2,094/mo17.3%very comfortable
Woodland Park, CO$2,105/mo17.4%very comfortable
Arvada, CO$2,117/mo17.5%very comfortable
Firestone, CO$2,131/mo17.6%very comfortable
Monument, CO$2,128/mo17.6%very comfortable
Windsor, CO$2,216/mo18.3%very comfortable
Lafayette, CO$2,211/mo18.3%very comfortable
Golden, CO$2,234/mo18.5%very comfortable
Greenwood Village, CO$2,243/mo18.6%very comfortable
Centennial, CO$2,259/mo18.7%very comfortable
Milliken, CO$2,258/mo18.7%very comfortable
Parker, CO$2,310/mo19.1%very comfortable
Security-Widefield, CO$2,322/mo19.2%very comfortable
Commerce City, CO$2,339/mo19.4%very comfortable
Boulder, CO$2,370/mo19.6%very comfortable
Rifle, CO$2,367/mo19.6%very comfortable
Superior, CO$2,425/mo20.1%affordable
Glenwood Springs, CO$2,429/mo20.1%affordable
Castle Rock, CO$2,503/mo20.7%affordable
Morrison, CO$2,501/mo20.7%affordable
Highlands Ranch, CO$2,635/mo21.8%affordable
Louisville, CO$2,648/mo21.9%affordable
Castle Pines, CO$2,657/mo22%affordable
Peyton, CO$2,675/mo22.1%affordable
Eagle, CO$2,752/mo22.8%affordable
Erie, CO$2,920/mo24.2%affordable
Evergreen, CO$2,942/mo24.3%affordable
Timnath, CO$2,973/mo24.6%affordable
Granby, CO$3,125/mo25.9%affordable
Silverthorne, CO$3,311/mo27.4%affordable
Vail, CO$3,620/mo30%affordable
Steamboat Springs, CO$3,713/mo30.7%stretched
Carbondale, CO$3,715/mo30.7%stretched
Basalt, CO$4,825/mo39.9%stretched
Aspen, CO$18,041/mo149.3%severely rent-burdened
Methodology: Salary is the BLS-derived state estimate for Colorado. Rent is the latest ZORI monthly value for each city. Affordability uses the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income).