Relocation profile · Federal data
Colorado Springs, CO
LiveAbility 30.6/100 places Colorado Springs #364 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 100.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,735
- 2BR rent / mo
- $72,907
- Median salary
- 30.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Colorado Springs ranks #364 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (30.6/100), with its strongest marks in job market and schools.
- #364
- of 387 US metros · Well below median
- 5,957,493
- metro-area population
- 481
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,923
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (5/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Colorado Springs ranks #364 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 100.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,735/mo, median salary $72,907; LiveAbility Score 30.6/100, strongest in job market and schools.
Signature: LiveAbility 30.6/100 places Colorado Springs #364 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 100.7 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,735/mo.
LiveAbility 30.6/100 puts Colorado Springs in the bottom third (#364 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Colorado Springs area is 304,920.
Colorado Springs vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
31 Top 94% higher than 6% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Colorado Springs housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Colorado Springs MSA; housing RPP 116.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,735/mo.
Colorado Springs wages and employment
Colorado Springs posts 304,920 total employment with median salary $72,907 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,420 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $41,440 |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,060 |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 |
| Cashiers | $35,740 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Colorado Springs area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Colorado Springs area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Colorado Springs's composite Life Score is 42.1/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Colorado Springs ranks #364 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 30.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Colorado Springs - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
83 /100
- Schools
Schools
37 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
37 /100
- Air quality 26
Air quality
26 /100
- Cost of living 19
Cost of living
19 /100
- Housing 19
Housing
19 /100
- Safety 7
Safety
7 /100
- Climate 5
Climate
5 /100
What this shows Colorado Springs's strongest dimensions are job market and schools; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 5/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Colorado Springs to
Metros near Colorado Springs on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Colorado Springs on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Colorado Springs cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Colorado Springs wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs runs a $72,907 median salary at a 100.7 cost index, ranking #364 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Colorado Springs's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Colorado Springs head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Colorado Springs
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.