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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Boulder, CO costs roughly 17% less than in Bergen County, NJ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.71 $19.71

2.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 $70.6

$85.2 $85.2

-17.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 $11.02

$13.81 $13.81

-20.20%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$4.92 $4.92

14.63%

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

$3.32 $3.32

$2.40 $2.40

38.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.25 $2.25

3.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.38 $6.38

$7.19 $7.19

-11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$9.21 $9.21

-21.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.29 $1.29

-20.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.45 $4.45

-17.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$9.01 $9.01

-51.83%

Eggs

$5.45 $5.45

$4.85 $4.85

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.10 $13.10

$17.02 $17.02

-23.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.70 $14.70

$11.63 $11.63

26.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$17.51 $17.51

-1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.85 $4.85

-5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.71 $1.71

-15.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.91 $3.91

-3.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.06 $4.06

20.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.90 $2.90

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.85 $3.85

-32.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.35 $2.35

-1.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.14 $2.14

5.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$13.57 $13.57

-27.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.76 $16.76

$15.10 $15.10

10.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.78 $1.78

6.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.59 $3.59

8.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.18 $4.18

-35.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$149 $149

$169 $169

-11.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.93 $2.93

-12.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.37 $1.37

4.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.22 $24.22

$23.55 $23.55

2.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.91 $0.91

-12.09%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$29.1K $29.1K

-8.36%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.93%

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

$190 $190

$130 $130

46.53%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$45.09 $45.09

32.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 $70.0

$65.8 $65.8

6.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.6 $78.6

$43.16 $43.16

82.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 $19.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.32 $16.32

$17.28 $17.28

-5.56%

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

$1,435 $1,435

$2,258 $2,258

-36.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$23.5K $23.5K

32.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$74.8 $74.8

-3.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.94 $37.94

$23.66 $23.66

60.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 $90.2

$88.9 $88.9

1.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$114 $114

-9.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,185 $2,185

$2,701 $2,701

-19.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,844 $1,844

$2,662 $2,662

-30.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,078 $4,078

$4,683 $4,683

-12.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,816 $2,816

$2,995 $2,995

-5.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,396 $4,396

$3,981 $3,981

10.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,491 $4,491

$3,764 $3,764

19.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,374 $5,374

$5,392 $5,392

-0.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Boulder, CO: April 26, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,185 in Boulder, CO and $2,701 in Bergen County, NJ. 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: $71.0 in Boulder, CO vs $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 vs $443 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

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

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

On paper, Bergen County, NJ earns 0% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,185 in Boulder, CO versus $2,701 in Bergen County, NJ. 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 $3,402 per month in Boulder, CO versus $4,087 in Bergen County, NJ – 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, Boulder, CO and Bergen County, NJ 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.