Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and Rockville, MD

For one person, living costs are similar in Denver, CO and in Rockville, MD: $3,151 and $3,247 a month, rent and utilities included.

Denver, CO, United States
Rockville, MD, United States
Denver, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,151
/mo nomad
Rockville, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$3,247
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Denver, CO and in Rockville, MD

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,151 in Denver, CO versus $3,247 in Rockville, MD.

  • Denver, CO $3,151
  • Rockville, MD $3,247

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,582 in Denver, CO versus $4,701 in Rockville, MD.

  • Denver, CO $4,582
  • Rockville, MD $4,701

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,013 in Denver, CO versus $6,154 in Rockville, MD.

  • Denver, CO $6,013
  • Rockville, MD $6,154

Living in Denver, CO costs roughly 3% less than in Rockville, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Denver, CO 132% above, Rockville, MD 139% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$22.62 $22.62
-12.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$74.7 $74.7
13.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.95 $11.95
$10.19 $10.19
17.27%
Cappuccino
$6.13 $6.13
$5.31 $5.31
15.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.42 $2.42
21.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.77 $1.77
29.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.10 $7.10
$6.63 $6.63
7.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83 $7.83
$7.47 $7.47
4.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.13 $1.13
-0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$5.58 $5.58
$2.98 $2.98
87.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.33 $7.33
$2.66 $2.66
175.56%
Eggs
$5.11 $5.11
$3.81 $3.81
34.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.37 $16.37
$9.75 $9.75
67.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.22 $17.22
$9.32 $9.32
84.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.55 $18.55
$18.29 $18.29
1.42%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$4.74 $4.74
9.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.27 $1.27
65.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$4.38 $4.38
12.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$3.87 $3.87
36.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.60 $2.60
2.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.46 $2.46
14.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.59 $2.59
-8.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.80 $1.80
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.76 $10.76
$14.00 $14.00
-23.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 $18.72
$14.48 $14.48
29.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.41 $2.41
12.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.76 $3.76
-4.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.16 $3.16
-11.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.3 $88.3
$110 $110
-19.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$5.05 $5.05
-29.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.11 $1.11
61.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.56 $29.56
$23.29 $23.29
26.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.07 $1.07
-0.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$34.3K $34.3K
-12.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 $166
$297 $297
-44.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.5 $75.5
$50.7 $50.7
48.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$60.6 $60.6
14.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.2 $58.2
$42.82 $42.82
35.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.43 $25.43
$12.46 $12.46
104.09%
Cinema Ticket
$15.02 $15.02
$16.64 $16.64
-9.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,293 $2,293
$1,934 $1,934
18.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.6K $33.6K
$27.7K $27.7K
21.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9 $70.9
$46.01 $46.01
54.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.11 $45.11
$39.71 $39.71
13.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$88.5 $88.5
17.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$133 $133
0.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 $1,972
$2,213 $2,213
-10.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,637 $1,637
$1,791 $1,791
-8.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,367 $3,367
$3,763 $3,763
-10.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,592 $2,592
$3,061 $3,061
-15.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,506 $5,506
$4,172 $4,172
31.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,491 $3,491
$2,976 $2,976
17.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denver, CO
Rockville, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,947 $4,947
$6,378 $6,378
-22.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.9
6.46
6.81%

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

Last update for Denver, CO: October 27, 2026

Last update for Rockville, MD: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Denver, CO
$1.6K
Rockville, MD
$1.8K 9.4% $154
Groceries & Markets
Denver, CO
$503
Rockville, MD
$359 28.6% $144
Eating Out
Denver, CO
$340
Rockville, MD
$340 0.1% $0.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denver, CO
$311
Rockville, MD
$409 31.5% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Denver, CO
$159
Rockville, MD
$138 13.2% $21
Getting Around
Denver, CO
$112
Rockville, MD
$133 19% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Denver, CO
$88
Rockville, MD
$76 13.7% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,972 in Denver, CO and $2,213 in Rockville, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rockville, MD pays 29% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $85 in Denver, CO vs $75 in Rockville, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $503 vs $359 per month, with Rockville, MD cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Denver, CO
🇺🇸 Rockville, MD
🕒 Local time
10:08 10:08 AM
12:08 12:08 PM
2 h ahead of Denver, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
715,522
67,139
Exchange rates and currency converter

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United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Denver, CO Rockville, MD 2,380 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Denver, CO
  • Rockville, MD

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
Denver, CO vs Rockville, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Denver, CO or Rockville, MD?
Denver, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Rockville, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Denver, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Denver, CO or in Rockville, MD?
On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Denver, CO. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Denver, CO compared to Rockville, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,972 in Denver, CO versus $2,213 in Rockville, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Denver, CO or in Rockville, MD?
Shoppers in Rockville, MD pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Denver, CO and in Rockville, MD?
Dining out is cheaper in Rockville, MD – a meal for two runs $75 versus $85 in Denver, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Denver, CO or in Rockville, MD?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Denver, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Denver, CO or Rockville, MD?
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.
Should I move to Denver, CO or to Rockville, MD?
It comes down to priorities – Denver, CO wins on affordability, Rockville, MD on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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