Salary Needed to Live in Denver as a Single

A single adult living independently needs approximately $24,495/year to live comfortably in Denver, CO — including 10% savings.

Comfortable Salary
$24,495
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$21,140
no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$1,286
19% above national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Denver

ExpenseDenverNat'l AvgDiff
🏠 Studio/1BR Rent$144$113+27%
🛒 Groceries$29$17+71%
⚡ Utilities$14$140%
🚗 Transportation$30$26+15%
🛡️ Car Insurance$190$215-12%
🏥 Health Insurance$53$54-2%
Internet$83$65+28%
Phone$109$85+28%
Dining & Social$384$300+28%
Entertainment$154$120+28%
Personal Care$96$75+28%
Total Monthly$1,286$1,084+19%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$1,286
Target savings (10%):$166/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$1,452
Effective tax rate:27%

Gross annual salary needed:$24,495

Other Household Types in Denver

Couple (No Kids)
$34,525/yr
$1,755/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$75,372/yr
$3,643/mo expenses
Retiree
$25,482/yr
$1,444/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in DenverCity OverviewAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cheaper AlternativesCost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a single person need in Denver?
A single person needs approximately $24,495/year ($2,041/month gross) to live comfortably in Denver with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Denver?
A studio/1br in Denver costs approximately $144/month, which is the largest single expense at 11% of the total budget.
Is Denver affordable for a single person?
Denver is above the national average for single person living costs, requiring 19% more salary than the US median.
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