Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Durango, Colorado

Aerial view of Durango, Colorado
Photo by Quintin Soloviev via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Durango costs

A mountain-town budget needs housing, winter, transport, and care travel visible

Census QuickFacts reports a $1,636 median gross rent and a $78,602 median household income for Durango. The citywide figures help establish a starting point, but they do not describe a home near the river, hospital, library, trail, or transit stop.

Add taxes, insurance, utilities, heating, cooling, snow, roof, drainage, repairs, parking, vehicle or transit use, prescriptions, care, and trips to regional specialists. A lower-cost home farther from daily services may carry a different mobility and transport bill.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $3,652 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$1,253
Utilities (in rent)
$235
Food
$594/mo
Transportation
$1,289/mo
Healthcare
$516

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$5,087

Moderate

Cost of Living for Couple
$5,669

Moderate

Typical 1BR Rent
$1,253

Very Good

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$387/mo

Good

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Low

Good

Overall Feel
Moderate
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
4.2%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
26.6%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
38.5%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$69,958

Could Durango fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$3,652 per month
Two people
$5,669 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$1,253
Food
$594
Transportation
$1,289
Healthcare
$516

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Durango in everyday life

Could Durango work for you?

What may work well

  • Census provides current rent, income, broadband, insurance, disability, and poverty benchmarks.
  • The local hospital, library, parks, trails, and transit give the household identifiable resources.

What to think about

  • Housing, snow, grades, smoke, care travel, and specialist access can move the total far beyond median rent.
  • River and mountain neighborhoods can have very different flood, maintenance, and mobility costs.

Price a Durango household

  1. Compare several neighborhoods

    Keep rent or mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, heating, cooling, snow, slope, drainage, repairs, and service distance visible.

  2. Map recurring care

    Price Mercy Hospital, primary care, pharmacy, imaging, rehabilitation, transit, and regional referrals.

  3. Reserve for seasons

    Keep room for snow, roof work, smoke, cooling, drainage, trees, power, insurance, and a ride after severe weather.

Questions retirees ask

Is $1,636 the full cost of renting in Durango?

No. It is the Census median gross rent. Add utilities, heating, cooling, insurance, transport, snow, care, prescriptions, and regional travel.

Why do Durango homes have different budgets?

Housing type, river exposure, grade, snow, utilities, parking, transit, service distance, care, and regional travel vary by address.

Durango affordability depends on the actual mountain home, winter and smoke carrying costs, the hospital route, transport, and the services used each week.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.