Boulder vs Roswell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boulder
Roswell
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 31.0%, with Roswell being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to $57,264 in Roswell.
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 $57,264 in Roswell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $98,230 in Boulder.
Living in Boulder vs Roswell
Housing Costs
Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $647,000. The $103,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,696 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder vs $480/month in Roswell. Roswell 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 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Boulder and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $73,123 in Boulder and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell 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 $2,539/month in Roswell. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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