Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Boulder, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Boulder, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,087 in Bergen County, NJ versus $3,402 in Boulder, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,215 in Bergen County, NJ versus $4,746 in Boulder, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,344 in Bergen County, NJ versus $6,090 in Boulder, CO.

Living in Bergen County, NJ is roughly 20% more expensive than Boulder, CO, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen County, NJ 205% above, Boulder, CO 154% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.71 $19.71

$20.26 $20.26

-2.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 $85.2

$70.6 $70.6

20.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$11.02 $11.02

25.32%

Cappuccino

$4.92 $4.92

$5.64 $5.64

-12.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.32 $3.32

-27.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.32 $2.32

-3.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.19 $7.19

$6.38 $6.38

12.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.21 $9.21

$7.20 $7.20

27.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.03 $1.03

25.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.69 $3.69

20.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.01 $9.01

$4.34 $4.34

107.60%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$5.45 $5.45

-11.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.02 $17.02

$13.10 $13.10

29.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 $11.63

$14.70 $14.70

-20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.51 $17.51

$17.26 $17.26

1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$4.60 $4.60

5.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.45 $1.45

17.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.76 $3.76

3.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.90 $4.90

-17.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.61 $2.61

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.60 $2.60

48.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.32 $2.32

1.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.25 $2.25

-4.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.57 $13.57

$9.86 $9.86

37.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$16.76 $16.76

-9.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.89 $1.89

-5.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.88 $3.88

-7.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.68 $2.68

55.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$169 $169

$149 $149

13.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.55 $2.55

14.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.43 $1.43

-4.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.55 $23.55

$24.22 $24.22

-2.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.80 $0.80

13.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.1K $29.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

9.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

0.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$130 $130

$190 $190

-31.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.09 $45.09

$59.9 $59.9

-24.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$70.0 $70.0

-5.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.16 $43.16

$78.6 $78.6

-45.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 $19.89

Cinema Ticket

$17.28 $17.28

$16.32 $16.32

5.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,258 $2,258

$1,435 $1,435

57.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$31.3K $31.3K

-24.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 $74.8

$72.4 $72.4

3.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.66 $23.66

$37.94 $37.94

-37.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 $88.9

$90.2 $90.2

-1.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$102 $102

10.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,701 $2,701

$2,185 $2,185

23.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$1,844 $1,844

44.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,683 $4,683

$4,078 $4,078

14.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,995 $2,995

$2,816 $2,816

6.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,981 $3,981

$4,396 $4,396

-9.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,764 $3,764

$4,491 $4,491

-16.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,392 $5,392

$5,374 $5,374

0.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.42

2.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: April 26, 2026

Last update for Boulder, CO: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,701 in Bergen County, NJ and $2,185 in Boulder, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen County, NJ pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ vs $71.0 in Boulder, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $422 per month, with Boulder, CO cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bergen County, NJ vs Boulder, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bergen County, NJ and Boulder, CO differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($4,087 vs $3,402 including rent). Boulder, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bergen County, NJ pays 0% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,701 in Bergen County, NJ versus $2,185 in Boulder, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Boulder, CO – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,087 per month in Bergen County, NJ versus $3,402 in Boulder, CO – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Boulder, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bergen County, NJ and Boulder, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Boulder, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Bergen County, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.