Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boulder, CO and Newark, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Newark, NJ: $2,865 a month against $3,303 in Boulder, CO, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

159

Cost of Living Index in Boulder, CO
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Boulder, CO Living Index
137

Cost of Living Index in Newark, NJ
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Newark, NJ Living Index

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Boulder, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,303

/mo nomad

Newark, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,865

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boulder, CO and in Newark, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Boulder, CO and in Newark, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,303 per month in Boulder, CO vs $2,865 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Boulder, CO $3,303
Newark, NJ $2,865

A couple spends around $4,905 per month in Boulder, CO vs $4,206 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Boulder, CO $4,905
Newark, NJ $4,206

A family of three spends $6,508 per month in Boulder, CO vs $5,546 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Boulder, CO $6,508
Newark, NJ $5,546

Boulder, CO costs about 15% more than Newark, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Boulder, CO and Newark, NJ sit above the global median – Boulder, CO by 144%, Newark, NJ by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$20.32 $20.32

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$102 $102

-22.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.98 $14.98

$14.46 $14.46

3.60%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$6.68 $6.68

-14.07%

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

$3.53 $3.53

$3.86 $3.86

-8.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.46 $2.46

19.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.87 $7.87

-12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$9.91 $9.91

-20.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.37 $1.37

-10.22%

White Bread (500g)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.60 $4.60

19.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$7.73 $7.73

-13.32%

Eggs

$5.48 $5.48

$6.00 $6.00

-8.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.77 $11.77

$7.04 $7.04

67.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.23 $11.23

$18.01 $18.01

-37.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.36 $17.36

$20.84 $20.84

-16.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$7.08 $7.08

-17.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.29 $2.29

-37.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.79 $6.79

-10.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.74 $6.74

-10.09%

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.61 $4.61

-11.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$4.86 $4.86

-23.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.00 $3.00

16.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.73 $2.73

1.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.26 $10.26

$11.46 $11.46

-10.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.09 $17.09

$19.68 $19.68

-13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.92 $1.92

-0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.79 $2.79

77.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.91 $1.91

45.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.9 $86.9

$72.0 $72.0

20.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.08 $3.08

-19.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.21 $2.21

-36.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.02 $24.02

$38.70 $38.70

-37.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.08 $1.08

-0.93%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$27.9K $27.9K

2.09%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

0.99%

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

$229 $229

$217 $217

5.59%

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

$71.5 $71.5

$71.6 $71.6

-0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$70.2 $70.2

6.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.5 $75.5

$15.28 $15.28

394.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.92 $19.92

$17.46 $17.46

14.09%

Cinema Ticket

$18.82 $18.82

$14.59 $14.59

28.99%

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

$1,927 $1,927

$2,155 $2,155

-10.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.4K $32.4K

$33.9K $33.9K

-4.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$59.3 $59.3

14.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.54 $49.54

$27.50 $27.50

80.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 $93.1

$120 $120

-22.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$137 $137

3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,181 $2,181

$2,489 $2,489

-12.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 $1,726

$1,321 $1,321

30.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,833 $3,833

$3,273 $3,273

17.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,071 $3,071

$2,028 $2,028

51.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,157 $6,157

$4,190 $4,190

46.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,617 $4,617

$3,612 $3,612

27.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,513 $5,513

$3,912 $3,912

40.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.68

-0.15%

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

Last update for Boulder, CO: October 31, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Boulder, CO

$1.7K 52.3%

Newark, NJ

$1.3K 46.1% 23.4% $405

Groceries & Markets

Boulder, CO

$472 14.3%

Newark, NJ

$521 18.2% 10.4% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Boulder, CO

$375 11.4%

Newark, NJ

$359 12.5% 4.3% $16

Eating Out

Boulder, CO

$351 10.6%

Newark, NJ

$371 12.9% 5.5% $19

Clothing & Footwear

Boulder, CO

$158 4.8%

Newark, NJ

$155 5.4% 2.2% $3.6

Sport & Entertainment

Boulder, CO

$113 3.4%

Newark, NJ

$44 1.6% 60.7% $69

Getting Around

Boulder, CO

$108 3.3%

Newark, NJ

$94 3.3% 12.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,181 in Boulder, CO versus $2,489 in Newark, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Boulder, CO. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Boulder, CO versus $102 in Newark, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $472 vs $521 – making Boulder, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Boulder, CO

🇺🇸 Newark, NJ

🕒 Local time

22:53 10:53 PM

00:53 12:53 AM

2 h ahead of Boulder, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

106,803

311,549

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Boulder, CO Newark, NJ 2,650 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Boulder, CO
Newark, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Newark, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Boulder, CO is pricier by about 15%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,955 per month in Boulder, CO and $4,297 in Newark, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boulder, CO, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,181 there versus $2,489 in Newark, NJ.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Boulder, CO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Boulder, CO and $102 in Newark, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,303 in Boulder, CO and $2,865 in Newark, NJ. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Boulder, CO has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,865 in Newark, NJ to $3,303 in Boulder, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Newark, NJ. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boulder, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.