Cost of Living in
Broomfield, CO

The Real Cost of Living in Broomfield (2026)

Forget the glossy brochures and the Chamber of Commerce spin. You’re here for the unvarnished math, the real cost of putting down roots in Broomfield. The Cost of Living Index sits at 101.4, a number that looks deceptively close to the national average of 100. This is the first trick. It’s an average that masks the reality that Broomfield is a high-cost satellite city, a place where you pay a premium for proximity to the Denver-Boulder tech corridor without the full urban payoff. The median household income is $112,139, which tells you what the established families are pulling in. For a single earner, the baseline for what this city considers "comfortable"—meaning you can pay your bills, save a little, and not panic at an unexpected car repair—is an income of at least $61,676. Anything less, and you're not just budgeting; you're actively bleeding money every month.

The Big Items

Your financial stability in Broomfield will be determined by three leviathans: housing, taxes, and the daily grind of groceries and fuel. These aren't just line items; they are the primary drivers of your financial anxiety or security.

Housing: The Golden Handcuffs

The housing market here is a masterclass in entrapment. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,835 per month, while a two-bedroom will set you back $2,201. To rent a two-bedroom, a household needs to be pulling in roughly $88,000 a year, assuming a conservative 30% of gross income on housing. But here's the trap: renting long-term feels like setting fire to a pile of cash. You get zero equity and are subject to the whims of a landlord who will happily raise your rent by 5-8% annually because they know you have few better options. The alternative, buying, presents its own maze. While the median home price data is currently unavailable, the market is notoriously competitive. Buyers face intense bidding wars, often paying $20,000-$40,000 over the asking price, only to be hit with property taxes that can easily amount to $4,000-$6,000 annually on a modest single-family home. The choice isn't between a good option and a bad one; it's between guaranteed, predictable loss (renting) and a high-stakes gamble with massive upfront costs (buying).

Taxes: The Silent Thief

Colorado's flat income tax rate of 4.4% seems reasonable on paper, but it's a different story when you're writing the check. For that single earner making $61,676, you're looking at $2,713 gone before you even think about groceries. The real gut punch, however, is property tax. While Colorado's rate is low by national standards, the soaring home values mean the actual dollar amount is anything but. You can expect to pay between 0.5% and 0.7% of your home's assessed value. On a $600,000 home, that's $3,000-$4,200 a year, or $250-$350 a month, tacked onto your mortgage payment—a non-negotiable bleed that funds local schools and services but offers you no direct return. Don't forget sales tax, which sits at a combined 8.1% in Broomfield. Every single purchase, from a new TV to a takeout dinner, is taxed at that rate, nickel-and-diming you to the tune of hundreds of dollars a year.

Groceries & Gas: The Daily Grind

Don't expect a break at the supermarket. Groceries in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, which Broomfield is a part of, consistently run 5-7% higher than the national baseline. A standard bag of groceries that would cost $100 in a place like St. Louis or Cleveland will likely cost you $107 here. It’s a small percentage that adds up to an extra $400-$600 a year on the grocery budget for a single person. The real volatility, however, is at the pump. Colorado gas prices are notoriously volatile, often sitting $0.30-$0.50 per gallon above the national average. With a 20-mile commute each way in a car that gets 25 MPG, you could easily burn through $200-$250 in fuel per month. This isn't just the cost of getting to work; it's the price of participating in the Broomfield economy, a cost that fluctuates wildly and directly punishes those who live further from their workplace.

Hidden 'Gotcha' Costs

This is where the budget gets gutted. These are the costs that don't show up on the "average cost of living" calculators but will drain your bank account with surgical precision.

• The E-470 Toll Trap: If your job or social life requires you to cross the northwest quadrant of the metro area, you will be paying. The E-470 tollway is an unavoidable expense for many, and the bills are insidious. A single trip can cost $3.00-$5.00 in tolls. If you commute via E-470 five times a week, that can easily become $60-$100 a month, or $720-$1,200 a year—money that vanishes into a corporate account for zero asset value to you.
• HOA Fees: Nearly every new development and many older neighborhoods are governed by a Homeowners Association. These aren't optional. A "reasonable" HOA fee is $50-$100 a month, but many communities, especially those with pools or extensive landscaping, charge $150-$300+ per month. That's $1,800-$3,600 a year you pay for the privilege of being told what color you can paint your fence.
• Insurance Surcharges: Your standard homeowner's or renter's insurance policy is just the starting point. Being in a semi-arid region with wildland-urban interface zones means you may face a "wildfire risk" surcharge, adding 10-20% to your premium. If you live in a low-lying area near a creek, you'll be strongly encouraged, or required, to buy separate flood insurance, a policy that can run $800-$1,500 annually.
• Parking & Storage: Parking in Broomfield itself is generally free, but if you commute into Denver or Boulder, you will pay. Monthly parking in a downtown garage can easily be $150-$250. Furthermore, many newer, denser housing developments have limited garage space, leading residents to rent off-site storage units for $100-$200 a month just to store seasonal items, holiday decorations, or hobby gear.

Lifestyle Inflation

The baseline cost of living is one thing; the cost of doing anything enjoyable is another. The "Broomfield Premium" extends to your social life and personal well-being.

A casual night out isn't casual on the wallet. Two people having a decent dinner with a couple of drinks each will be looking at a bill of $80-$120 plus tip. A craft beer at a local brewery is $8-$10. A monthly gym membership at a facility like the Broomfield Recreation Center or a private gym like Chuze Fitness will be $40-$70. A simple cup of coffee from a local shop is $5.00-$6.50. These aren't luxuries; they are the basic costs of socializing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you're a coffee drinker who buys a cup on the way to work three times a week, you're spending roughly $65 a month, or $780 a year, on coffee alone. It’s the drip, drip, drip of small expenses that collectively create a massive financial leak.

Salary Scenarios

To make this tangible, let's break down what you actually need to earn to survive and thrive in Broomfield. The following table outlines three distinct lifestyles for both a single person and a family of four.

Analysis of Scenarios

Frugal: This is survival mode. The single earner at $55,000 is taking home roughly $3,400 a month after taxes. A $1,835 one-bedroom rent consumes 54% of that take-home pay, leaving just $1,565 for everything else—car payment, gas, groceries, insurance, and zero entertainment. It's doable but miserable. For a family earning $90,000, the math is even tighter. After taxes, their take-home is around $5,600. A modest 3-bedroom rental at $2,700 takes up 48% of their income, leaving $2,900 to cover the inflated costs of feeding and clothing two adults and two kids. There is no room for error. No savings, no vacations, no emergencies. One car breakdown and the whole system collapses.

Moderate: This is the "keep your head above water" level. A single person earning $75,000 has a take-home of about $4,600. Rent at $1,835 is a more manageable 40%. This allows for a car payment, reasonable spending on groceries and gas, and maybe $300-$400 a month for savings or fun. It’s stable but not secure. The family at $135,000 is in a similar position. Their take-home is roughly $8,400. With a mortgage or rent around $3,000 (36%), they have $5,400 left. They can afford ballet lessons, a decent vacation, and are likely saving for retirement, but they still feel the pinch from E-470 tolls and $8 beers. They are living the Broomfield life, but the budget is still a conscious, daily effort.

Comfortable: This is the level where you stop worrying about the price of milk. For a single person, $100,000 yields a take-home of about $6,200. Paying $2,200 for a nicer 2-bedroom apartment (35%) still leaves $4,000 for everything else. You can max out a 401(k), drive a new car, and not flinch at a $150 dinner bill. The family at $180,000 has a take-home of around $11,200. They can afford a $4,000 monthly mortgage on a $750,000 home (36%), two reliable cars, private lessons for the kids, and still save over $2,000 a month. At this level, the hidden costs of Broomfield are just background noise, not a financial threat. This is the true goal: earning enough that the city's premium pricing becomes an inconvenience, not a crisis.