States › Colorado › Carbondale

Is Carbondale, CO expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 24 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,29831% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$116,827about $9,736/month · 34% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$900,600171% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.7 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $91,920 a year. That is $44 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Colorado cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Colorado. It is number 79 of 112 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Carbondale
$2,298
Air Force Academy
$2,366
Dacono
$1,937
Aspen
$2,206
Gunnison
$1,293
Gleneagle
$2,105
Orchard Mesa
$1,628

How much do households earn in Carbondale?

Under $25k
9.9%
$25k–50k
12.0%
$50k–100k
33.1%
$100k–150k
24.9%
$150k+
17.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 42.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Carbondale

SizeCarbondaleU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,498$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,631$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,021$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,500+$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Carbondale overall?

Everyday prices in Colorado overall are 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
127
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
85
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Carbondale, so the Colorado figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Carbondale

🏛️ Property tax$3,917a year · 0.43% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$94a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Carbondale

Commute to work27.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree53%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home63.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line10.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carbondale?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,951 a month less.

Renting
$2,298
Owning
$6,249

Owning assumes a typical $900,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $90,060 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Carbondale, CO?

Renting in Carbondale costs a median of about $2,298 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Colorado median is $2,080.

How much do I need to make to live in Carbondale?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $91,920 a year, or $44 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Carbondale cheap or expensive?

Carbondale is rated OK: rent takes 23.6% of the typical household income of $116,827. It ranks 79th cheapest of 112 Colorado cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Carbondale?

The median homeowner in Carbondale pays $3,917 a year in property taxes, about 0.43% of the median home value.

Is Carbondale more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Colorado are 3% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Carbondale?

The median home value in Carbondale is $900,600, about 7.7 times the typical yearly household income.

6,637 people live in Carbondale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.