Boulder, CO vs Alhambra, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Alhambra, CA has a modeled overall cost index 50.7% higher than Boulder, CO.

Boulder, CO · modeled 2BR rent: $2,290 / month
Alhambra, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,475 / 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 Boulder, CO and Alhambra, CA 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

Current salary in Boulder, CO

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $3,715/month in Alhambra, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $194,575 in Alhambra, CA

Regional cost estimates: Boulder, CO uses Denver, CO. Alhambra, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 50.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$3,715

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$44.6K

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.

Boulder, CO

Population:106K

Cost Index:

105.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$938K

Alhambra, CA

Population:80K

Cost Index:

158.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$913K

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Boulder, CO

The Centennial State

106K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 106K residents.

Alhambra, CA

The Golden State

80K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 80K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Boulder, CO vs Alhambra, CA

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.

Category	Boulder, CO	Alhambra, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,614/mo	$5,965/mo	↑ $3,351more	128.2%
Transportation	$1,307/mo	$1,846/mo	↑ $539more	41.3%
Other	$1,587/mo	$1,480/mo	↓ $106less	6.7%
Healthcare	$578/mo	$495/mo	↓ $82.46less	14.3%
All Utilities	$474/mo	$498/mo	↑ $23.77more	5.0%
Groceries	$941/mo	$930/mo	↓ $10.82less	1.2%

Housing

↑ 128.2%

Boulder, CO

$2,614

Alhambra, CA

$5,965

Difference

$3,351

Transportation

↑ 41.3%

Boulder, CO

$1,307

Alhambra, CA

$1,846

Difference

$539

Other

↓ 6.7%

Boulder, CO

$1,587

Alhambra, CA

$1,480

Difference

$106

less

Healthcare

↓ 14.3%

Boulder, CO

$578

Alhambra, CA

$495

Difference

$82.46

less

All Utilities

↑ 5.0%

Boulder, CO

$474

Alhambra, CA

$498

Difference

$23.77

Groceries

↓ 1.2%

Boulder, CO

$941

Alhambra, CA

$930

Difference

$10.82

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,675

To$1,770

↑ $95.00

1 Bed

From$1,935

To$1,985

↑ $50.00

2 Bed

From$2,290

To$2,475

↑ $185

3 Bed

From$3,040

To$3,140

↑ $100

Boulder, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,910–$1,960/mo

Alhambra, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,910–$2,060/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 Boulder, CO

$11,215

Monthly in Alhambra, CA

$3,715

Difference

Home Values

Boulder

Alhambra

$938K

Median Value

$913K

↓ -2.6%

YoY Change

↑ +0.2%

↑ +18.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +26.3%

$695K - $1.18M

Price Range

$888K - $938K

Homes in Alhambra are 3% less expensive than Boulder

Calculate payment - Boulder Calculate payment - Alhambra

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $4.0K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$336

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.7%

Rate difference

Boulder, 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

Alhambra, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Boulder, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%

Property Tax:0.5%

Alhambra, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Boulder

Alhambra

55 Moderate

Air Quality

80 Moderate

35.2%

Good Air Days

10.4%

95 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Boulder, CO to Alhambra, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Alhambra, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Boulder, CO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Boulder to Alhambra moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Boulder, CO vs Alhambra, CA

How do the cost estimates for Boulder, CO and Alhambra, CA compare?

Alhambra, CA has a modeled overall cost index 50.7% higher than Boulder, 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 Boulder, CO, the model estimates $194,575 in Alhambra, CA. 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 Boulder, CO and Alhambra, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,290/month in Boulder, CO and $2,475/month in Alhambra, CA. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Colorado and California on TaxTakeHome.com