B
21%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
71%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Brighton Colorado National
Cost of living121111100
Goods & Services104104100
Groceries96101100
Health care89100100
Housing171134100
Transportation109105100
Utilities8891100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Brighton, CO

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Brighton is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Brighton is 121, which is 21% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Brighton may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Brighton falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Brighton cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 70.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Brighton Affordable?

Is Brighton an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Brighton is 82.5% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 43.6% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Brighton has a median household income of $74,813, which is 35.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brighton?

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Brighton, the groceries index is 4.1% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Brighton, the general sales tax rate starts at 2.9%, and income tax rates begin at 4.4%.

Where is the Data From?

The Brighton cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brighton is 9% higher than the Colorado average
  • The cost of living in Brighton is 21% higher than the national average
  • Brighton housing is 71% higher than the national average
  • Colorado general sales tax is 43% lower than the national average
  • Colorado state income tax is 69% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Brighton

See all the best places to live around Brighton

Compare Brighton, CO Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$91,600$7,633$2,137$2,748
      Renters$51,813$4,318$1,209$1,555
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Brighton, CO, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Brighton, homeowners have a median income of $91,600. Using that number, a maximum of $2,137 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $51,813, which means there is a maximum of $1,209 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Colorado Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Colorado 2.9% 10%

      Colorado Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Colorado 4.4% 4.4%

      Goods & Services

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.33$24.264.4%
      Beauty Salon $45.45$45.560.3%
      Toothpaste $4.12$3.7011.4%
      Shampoo $1.19$1.286.8%
      Movie $11.09$12.138.6%
      Bowling $22.22$18.0023.5%

      Groceries

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.56$5.844.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.578.9%
      Milk $4.89$4.674.7%
      Potatoes $4.62$4.936.4%
      Pizza $11.06$12.098.5%
      Beer $11.34$10.418.9%

      Health Care

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $110.45$125.6812.1%
      Doctor $188.89$135.7839.1%
      Dentist $107.78$113.294.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.80$10.651.4%
      Lipitor $477.35$468.601.9%

      Housing

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $337,100.00$184,700.0082.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,542.08$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,363.00$949.0043.6%

      Transportation

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.58$3.463.4%
      Tire Balancing $73.58$59.9222.8%

      Utilities

      Item Brighton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $161.00$193.9917.0%
      Phone $195.56$192.251.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lakeside, CO68514.8%
      Federal Heights, CO13,537919.4%
      North Washington, CO663954.5%
      Derby, CO9,1561065.9%
      Hudson, CO2,6911088.4%
      Brighton, CO38,35512121.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pahrump, NV38,390963.8%
      Stanton, CA38,31714242.2%
      Martinez, CA38,39717272.4%
      Waipahu, HI38,27617777.0%
      Olive Branch, MS38,270982.1%
      Brighton, CO38,35512121.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.