Alamosa, CO vs Cortez, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Cortez, CO has a modeled overall cost index 10.4% lower than Alamosa, CO.

Alamosa, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month
Cortez, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,210 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Alamosa, CO and Cortez, CO using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $731/month in Cortez, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,229 in Cortez, CO

Regional cost estimates: Alamosa, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Cortez, CO uses Albuquerque, NM. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$731
Savings
Annual Impact
$8.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Alamosa, CO

Population:10K
Cost Index:
88.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$306K

Cortez, CO

Population:9K
Cost Index:
79.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$335K

Planning the move to Cortez?

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Alamosa, CO

The Centennial State

10K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Cortez, CO

The Centennial State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Alamosa, CO vs Cortez, CO

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 22.3%
Alamosa, CO
$2,450
Cortez, CO
$1,904
Difference
$546
less
Other
↓ 6.5%
Alamosa, CO
$1,705
Cortez, CO
$1,595
Difference
$111
less
Healthcare
↓ 14.1%
Alamosa, CO
$643
Cortez, CO
$552
Difference
$90.80
less
Groceries
↓ 5.4%
Alamosa, CO
$1,027
Cortez, CO
$971
Difference
$55.24
less
All Utilities
↑ 9.2%
Alamosa, CO
$466
Cortez, CO
$509
Difference
$43.09
more
Transportation
↑ 2.4%
Alamosa, CO
$1,210
Cortez, CO
$1,238
Difference
$28.61
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$770
To$870
↑ $100
1 Bed
From$830
To$930
↑ $100
2 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,210
↑ $210
3 Bed
From$1,390
To$1,610
↑ $220
Alamosa, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Cortez, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Alamosa, CO
$6,769
Monthly in Cortez, CO
$731
Difference

Home Values

Alamosa
Cortez
$306K
Median Value
$335K
↑ +4.3%
YoY Change
↑ +1.4%
↑ +44.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +34.6%

Homes in Cortez are 9% more expensive than Alamosa

Calculate payment - AlamosaCalculate payment - Cortez

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Alamosa, CO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Colorado State Tax
Effective: 4.4%
$6.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.1%
$43.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,866/month
$106.4K

Cortez, CO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Colorado State Tax
Effective: 4.4%
$6.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.1%
$43.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,866/month
$106.4K

Additional Tax Information

Alamosa, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

Cortez, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Alamosa
Cortez
49 Good
Air Quality
61 Moderate
55.2%
Good Air Days
27.3%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 High
🔥🌊🌪
Top Hazards
🌊
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
9 days
Heat Days >95°F
63 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
9 days
Heat Days >95°F
63 days

Before moving from Alamosa, CO to Cortez, CO

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Cortez, CO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Alamosa, CO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Alamosa to Cortez moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Cortez, CO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Alamosa, CO vs Cortez, CO

How do the cost estimates for Alamosa, CO and Cortez, CO compare?

Cortez, CO has a modeled overall cost index 10.4% lower than Alamosa, CO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Alamosa, CO, the model estimates $141,229 in Cortez, CO. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Alamosa, CO and Cortez, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,000/month in Alamosa, CO and $1,210/month in Cortez, CO. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Alamosa, CO on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $68.16/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $38.34/mo

Similar cost to Cortez, CO

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