Cary vs Denver
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Cary
Denver
💡 The Verdict
Cary is 14% cheaper than Denver overall. A $75,000 salary in Cary is equivalent to $86,765 in Denver.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Cary (left) vs Denver (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Cary versus Denver. Differences shown from Cary perspective.
| Item | Cary | Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,020/mo | $1,420/mo | $-400.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,340/mo | $1,900/mo | $-560.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,790/mo | $2,410/mo | $-620.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.65 | $3.06 | $-0.41 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.62 | $4.03 | $-0.41 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.77 | $2.89 | $-0.12 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.88 | $5.83 | +$0.05 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.45 | $3.29 | +$0.16 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.45 | $18.25 | $-1.80 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cary has the same purchasing power as $86,765 in Denver.
Conversely, $75,000 in Denver equals $64,831 in Cary.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. North Carolina details → · Colorado details →
Reading These Numbers: Cary (102) vs Denver (118)
Cary at 102 is 2% above the US average, while Denver at 118 is 18% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Cary, the composite index of 102 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 104, followed by groceries (96), utilities (92), transportation (106), and healthcare (94). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,340/mo in Cary and $1,900/mo in Denver, the annual rent difference is approximately $6,720.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $33,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $202,000.0 difference in median home prices between Cary and Denver translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Cary vs Denver
Choosing between Cary and Denver involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Cary and Denver reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.