States › Colorado › Sterling

Is Sterling, CO expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 29 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,11436% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$46,681about $3,890/month · 46% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$217,40035% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 81% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.7 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 14.7 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $44,560 a year. That is $21 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 9 of 112 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Sterling
$1,114
Superior
$2,437
Castle Pines
$2,600
Steamboat Springs
$2,008
Fruita
$1,311
Berthoud
$1,903
Federal Heights
$1,966

How much do households earn in Sterling?

Under $25k
21.0%
$25k–50k
35.4%
$50k–100k
24.0%
$100k–150k
9.0%
$150k+
1.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 10.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Sterling

SizeSterlingU.S. average
1 bedroom$731$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,096$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,382$1,698

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

How expensive is Sterling 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 Sterling, so the Colorado figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Sterling

🏛️ Property tax$939a year · 0.43% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$153a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Sterling

Commute to work14.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree15.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home55.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line19%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sterling?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $394 a month less.

Renting
$1,114
Owning
$1,508

Owning assumes a typical $217,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,740 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Sterling, CO?

Renting in Sterling costs a median of about $1,114 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Colorado median is $2,080.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $44,560 a year, or $21 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Sterling cheap or expensive?

Sterling is rated OK: rent takes 28.6% of the typical household income of $46,681. It ranks 9th cheapest of 112 Colorado cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Sterling?

The median homeowner in Sterling pays $939 a year in property taxes, about 0.43% of the median home value.

Is Sterling 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 Sterling?

The median home value in Sterling is $217,400, about 4.7 times the typical yearly household income.

13,172 people live in Sterling. Numbers are typical (middle) values.