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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,402 per month in Boulder, CO vs $3,078 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,746 per month in Boulder, CO vs $4,591 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,090 per month in Boulder, CO vs $6,105 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Boulder, CO costs about 11% more than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Boulder, CO and Newark, NJ sit above the global median – Boulder, CO by 154%, Newark, NJ by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.15 $20.15

0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 $70.6

$90.8 $90.8

-22.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 $11.02

$12.10 $12.10

-8.93%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$4.94 $4.94

14.17%

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

$3.32 $3.32

$2.71 $2.71

22.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.99 $1.99

16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.83 $5.83

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.88 $6.88

4.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.40 $1.40

-26.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.48 $4.48

-17.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$8.15 $8.15

-46.75%

Eggs

$5.45 $5.45

$5.79 $5.79

-5.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.10 $13.10

$15.07 $15.07

-13.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.70 $14.70

$16.69 $16.69

-11.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$21.03 $21.03

-17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$7.46 $7.46

-38.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.48 $2.48

-41.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$5.89 $5.89

-36.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$6.26 $6.26

-21.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.86 $3.86

-32.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.93 $3.93

-33.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.99 $2.99

-22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.55 $2.55

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$12.98 $12.98

-24.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.76 $16.76

$19.74 $19.74

-15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.96 $1.96

-3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.82 $3.82

1.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 $2.68

$6.16 $6.16

-56.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$149 $149

$55.3 $55.3

169.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.04 $3.04

-16.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.36 $1.36

5.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.22 $24.22

$21.57 $21.57

12.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.86 $0.86

-6.98%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

-11.28%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.1K $27.1K

-5.85%

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

$190 $190

$275 $275

-30.88%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$62.9 $62.9

-4.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 $70.0

$75.7 $75.7

-7.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.6 $78.6

$30.39 $30.39

158.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 $19.89

$17.26 $17.26

15.24%

Cinema Ticket

$16.32 $16.32

$15.25 $15.25

7.02%

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

$1,435 $1,435

$2,109 $2,109

-31.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$42.5K $42.5K

-26.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$52.0 $52.0

39.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.94 $37.94

$41.21 $41.21

-7.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 $90.2

$110 $110

-18.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$168 $168

-38.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,185 $2,185

$2,326 $2,326

-6.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,844 $1,844

$1,570 $1,570

17.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,078 $4,078

$3,259 $3,259

25.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,816 $2,816

$2,564 $2,564

9.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,396 $4,396

$5,595 $5,595

-21.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,491 $4,491

$5,558 $5,558

-19.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,374 $5,374

$3,603 $3,603

49.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.63

-3.17%

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

Last update for Boulder, CO: April 26, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,185 in Boulder, CO versus $2,326 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 49% higher in Boulder, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Boulder, CO versus $91.0 in Newark, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $422 vs $532 – making Boulder, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,103 per month in Boulder, CO and $4,617 in Newark, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Newark, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Boulder, CO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Boulder, CO and $91.0 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 $3,402 in Boulder, CO and $3,078 in Newark, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Newark, NJ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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