πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,025 in Rockville, MD versus $3,152 in Denver, CO.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,726 in Rockville, MD versus $4,688 in Denver, CO.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,427 in Rockville, MD versus $6,224 in Denver, CO.
πLiving in Rockville, MD costs roughly 4% less than in Denver, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Rockville, MD126% above, Denver, CO135% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.03$21.03
$20.15$20.15
4.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3$80.3
$86.4$86.4
-7.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40$10.40
$12.08$12.08
-13.91%
Cappuccino
$5.47$5.47
$5.30$5.30
3.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$2.98$2.98
-16.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$2.24$2.24
-5.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.45$6.45
$7.22$7.22
-10.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46$7.46
$8.12$8.12
-8.13%
π Groceries & Markets
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24$1.24
$1.03$1.03
20.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.83$3.83
$4.12$4.12
-7.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$5.70$5.70
-21.75%
Eggs
$4.13$4.13
$5.55$5.55
-25.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49$13.49
$14.20$14.20
-5.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.74$14.74
$13.28$13.28
10.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20$16.20
$17.08$17.08
-5.15%
Apples(1kg)
$6.71$6.71
$5.58$5.58
20.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60$1.60
$1.91$1.91
-16.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.43$6.43
$5.15$5.15
24.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.31$5.31
$5.31$5.31
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$2.79$2.79
2.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$2.59$2.59
8.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79$1.79
$2.02$2.02
-11.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63$2.63
$2.20$2.20
19.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.81$11.81
$10.41$10.41
13.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.72$14.72
$19.94$19.94
-26.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$2.40$2.40
-5.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58$3.58
$3.73$3.73
-4.02%
π Getting Around
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.60$2.60
$2.84$2.84
-8.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$138$138
$86.3$86.3
60.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92$2.92
$3.45$3.45
-15.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34$1.34
$1.72$1.72
-22.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.41$24.41
$23.63$23.63
3.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$0.89$0.89
-5.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K$31.3K
$31.1K$31.1K
0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$27.6K$27.6K
-7.85%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172$172
$176$176
-2.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.41$46.41
$71.7$71.7
-35.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2$71.2
$67.6$67.6
5.45%
π Sport & Entertainment
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.24$42.24
$63.7$63.7
-33.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.55$12.55
$38.21$38.21
-67.16%
Cinema Ticket
$15.10$15.10
$15.28$15.28
-1.18%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,750$1,750
$1,561$1,561
12.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.0K$33.0K
$16.2K$16.2K
103.25%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1$51.1
$59.8$59.8
-14.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7$52.7
$46.46$46.46
13.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7$93.7
$96.9$96.9
-3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118$118
$117$117
0.95%
π Accommodation & Living
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,067$2,067
$2,165$2,165
-4.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,580$1,580
$1,725$1,725
-8.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,831$3,831
$3,567$3,567
7.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,156$3,156
$2,955$2,955
6.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,247$4,247
$5,626$5,626
-24.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,412$2,412
$3,773$3,773
-36.09%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Rockville, MD
Denver, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,333$6,333
$4,401$4,401
43.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
6.37
2.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rockville, MD: June 1, 2026
Last update for Denver, CO: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,067 in Rockville, MD and $2,165 in Denver, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Rockville, MD pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $80.0 in Rockville, MD vs $86.0 in Denver, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $444 vs $451 per month, with Rockville, MD 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
Rockville, MD vs Denver, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rockville, MD or Denver, CO?
Rockville, MD wins on cost β living expenses run 4% lower than in Denver, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rockville, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rockville, MD or Denver, CO?
Rockville, MD pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rockville, MD vs Denver, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,067 in Rockville, MD versus $2,165 in Denver, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rockville, MD or Denver, CO?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Denver, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Rockville, MD vs Denver, CO?
Dining out is cheaper in Rockville, MD β a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $86.0 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 Rockville, MD or Denver, CO?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Rockville, MD is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rockville, MD or Denver, CO?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rockville, MD delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $3,025 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rockville, MD hard to pass up.
How safe is Rockville, MD compared to Denver, CO?
Safety-wise, Rockville, MD and Denver, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rockville, MD gentler on the wallet β expenses run 4% less than in Denver, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rockville, MD vs other spots: cost of living compared