Boulder vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boulder
Lakewood
The Verdict
Lakewood is 11.3% less expensive than Boulder overall. A household earning $75,000 in Boulder would need approximately $67,399 in Lakewood to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Boulder has the same purchasing power as $67,399 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $83,459 in Boulder.
Living in Boulder vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $574,000. The $176,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,436 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder vs $480/month in Lakewood. Lakewood offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Boulder and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder vs $340 in Lakewood. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Boulder and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $73,123 in Boulder and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $63,008 respectively. Lakewood residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,706/month to housing in Boulder vs $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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