salaryRent is lower than in 85% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.7 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 15.1 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $41,720 a year. That is $20 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Colorado cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Colorado. It is number 8 of 112 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Cortez?
Share of households by yearly income. 12.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Cortez
| Size | Cortez | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $823 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $908 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,003 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,432 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,463 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Cortez overall?
Everyday prices in Colorado overall are 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Cortez, so the Colorado figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Cortez
Life in Cortez
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cortez?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $851 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $272,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $27,290 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Cortez, CO?
Renting in Cortez costs a median of about $1,043 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Colorado median is $2,080.
How much do I need to make to live in Cortez?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $41,720 a year, or $20 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Cortez cheap or expensive?
Cortez is rated OK: rent takes 21.4% of the typical household income of $58,505. It ranks 8th cheapest of 112 Colorado cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Cortez?
The median homeowner in Cortez pays $701 a year in property taxes, about 0.26% of the median home value.
Is Cortez 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 Cortez?
The median home value in Cortez is $272,900, about 4.7 times the typical yearly household income.
8,976 people live in Cortez. Numbers are typical (middle) values.