F
58%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
194%
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 Superior Colorado National
Cost of living158111100
Goods & Services104104100
Groceries96101100
Health care89100100
Housing294134100
Transportation109105100
Utilities8891100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Superior, CO

The cost of living in Superior affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Superior is 158, which is 58% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Superior is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Superior falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Superior cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 193.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Superior Affordable?

Is Superior an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Superior, the median home price is 226.8% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 117.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Superior come in at $126,600, which is 128.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Superior?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Superior, healthcare costs are 11.1% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Superior, 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 Superior, the general sales tax rate starts at 2.9%, and income tax rates begin at 4.4%.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Superior displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Superior is 42% higher than the Colorado average
  • The cost of living in Superior is 58% higher than the national average
  • Superior housing is 194% 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 Superior

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Compare Superior, 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$144,856$12,071$3,380$4,346
      Renters$102,790$8,566$2,398$3,084
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Superior, CO, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Superior homeowners, is $144,856. This would allow for a maximum of $3,380 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $102,790 which would result in a maximum of $2,398 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Superior 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 Superior 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 Superior 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 Superior National avg. Difference
      Home Price $603,600.00$184,700.00226.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,542.08$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,060.00$949.00117.1%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Superior 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.
      Eldorado Springs, CO3251000.1%
      Gold Hill, CO1951000.1%
      Crisman, CO511000.1%
      Leyner, CO01000.1%
      Lakeside, CO68514.8%
      Superior, CO13,29215858.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rendon, TX13,29411313.2%
      Huron, SD13,2898317.1%
      Saint-Amable, QC13,300n/a 
      Solana Beach, CA13,301254153.9%
      Kettering, MD13,30213534.7%
      Superior, CO13,29215858.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.