Boulder, CO vs El Monte, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

El Monte, CA has a modeled overall cost index 24.0% higher than Boulder, CO.

Boulder, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$2,290 / month
El Monte, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$2,260 / 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 El Monte, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,977/month in El Monte, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $173,721 in El Monte, CA

Regional cost estimates: Boulder, CO uses Denver, CO. El Monte, CA uses Long Beach, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 24.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,977
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$23.7K
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

El Monte, CA

Population:104K
Cost Index:
130.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$754K

Planning the move to El Monte?

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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.

El Monte, CA

The Golden State

104K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 104K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Boulder, CO vs El Monte, 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.

Housing
↑ 52.8%
Boulder, CO
$2,614
El Monte, CA
$3,995
Difference
$1,381
more
Transportation
↑ 49.2%
Boulder, CO
$1,307
El Monte, CA
$1,950
Difference
$644
more
Healthcare
↓ 12.3%
Boulder, CO
$578
El Monte, CA
$507
Difference
$70.92
less
All Utilities
↑ 7.9%
Boulder, CO
$474
El Monte, CA
$512
Difference
$37.68
more
Other
↓ 1.8%
Boulder, CO
$1,587
El Monte, CA
$1,558
Difference
$28.40
less
Groceries
↑ 1.5%
Boulder, CO
$941
El Monte, CA
$955
Difference
$14.20
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,675
To$1,620
↓ $55.00
1 Bed
From$1,935
To$1,810
↓ $125
2 Bed
From$2,290
To$2,260
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$3,040
To$2,865
↓ $175
Boulder, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,910–$1,960/mo

El Monte, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,760–$1,860/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
$9,477
Monthly in El Monte, CA
$1,977
Difference

Home Values

Boulder
El Monte
$938K
Median Value
$754K
↓ -2.6%
YoY Change
↓ -0.1%
↑ +18.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.8%
$695K - $1.18M
Price Range
$749K - $759K

Homes in El Monte are 20% less expensive than Boulder

Calculate payment - BoulderCalculate payment - El Monte

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

El Monte, 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%

El Monte, 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
El Monte
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
▲+2.3°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
5 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
5 days

Before moving from Boulder, CO to El Monte, CA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in El Monte, 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.
  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 Boulder to El Monte moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Boulder, CO vs El Monte, CA

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

El Monte, CA has a modeled overall cost index 24.0% 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 $173,721 in El Monte, 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 El Monte, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,290/month in Boulder, CO and $2,260/month in El Monte, 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

Where your money goes further

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

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $1,236/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $1,211/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $1,060/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $989/mo
5.Columbus, OH
Save $945/mo

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