Colorado Springs vs Dover
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Colorado Springs
Dover
💡 The Verdict
Colorado Springs is 3% cheaper than Dover overall. A $75,000 salary in Colorado Springs is equivalent to $77,143 in Dover.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Colorado Springs (left) vs Dover (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Colorado Springs versus Dover. Differences shown from Colorado Springs perspective.
| Item | Colorado Springs | Dover | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,100/mo | $1,040/mo | +$60.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,500/mo | $1,490/mo | +$10.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,930/mo | $2,050/mo | $-120.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.78 | $2.76 | +$0.02 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.70 | $4.17 | $-0.47 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.31 | $3.65 | $-0.34 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.04 | $6.08 | $-0.04 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.39 | $3.19 | +$0.20 |
| Restaurant Meal | $18.45 | $16.17 | +$2.28 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Colorado Springs has the same purchasing power as $77,143 in Dover.
Conversely, $75,000 in Dover equals $72,917 in Colorado Springs.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $825 difference is driven by Delaware having a higher state income tax rate. Colorado details → · Delaware details →
Reading These Numbers: Colorado Springs (105) vs Dover (108)
Colorado Springs at 105 is 5% above the US average, while Dover at 108 is 8% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Colorado Springs, the composite index of 105 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 115, followed by groceries (100), utilities (93), transportation (101), and healthcare (104). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,500/mo in Colorado Springs and $1,490/mo in Dover, the annual rent difference is approximately $120.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $76,000.0 difference in median home prices between Colorado Springs and Dover 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: Colorado Springs vs Dover
Choosing between Colorado Springs and Dover 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.
When weighing Colorado Springs against Dover, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.