Buda, TX vs Denver, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Denver, CO has a modeled overall cost index 17.3% higher than Buda, TX.

Buda, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,880 / month
Denver, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$2,190 / 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 Buda, TX and Denver, 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 extra cost: $1,637/month in Denver, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $169,640 in Denver, CO

Regional cost estimates: Buda, TX uses Austin, TX. Denver, CO uses Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 17.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,637
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$19.6K
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.

Buda, TX

Population:16K
Cost Index:
93.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$361K

Denver, CO

Population:716K
Cost Index:
110.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$513K

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Buda, TX

The Lone Star State

16K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 16K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Denver, CO

The Centennial State

716K
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Semi-arid

Notable Facts

  • •Mile-high city (5,280 ft)
  • •Outdoor recreation hub
  • •Major cannabis market

Major Industries

AerospaceTechnologyEnergyTourism

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Buda, TX vs Denver, 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
↑ 37.4%
Buda, TX
$2,493
Denver, CO
$3,425
Difference
$932
more
Transportation
↑ 25.0%
Buda, TX
$1,233
Denver, CO
$1,541
Difference
$308
more
Other
↑ 11.9%
Buda, TX
$1,672
Denver, CO
$1,871
Difference
$199
more
Groceries
↑ 12.4%
Buda, TX
$965
Denver, CO
$1,085
Difference
$120
more
Healthcare
↑ 12.5%
Buda, TX
$592
Denver, CO
$666
Difference
$74.09
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.6%
Buda, TX
$544
Denver, CO
$547
Difference
$3.01
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Denver, CO: Denver Head Tax ($5.75/mo, negligible)$69.00/yr (0.0%)

Buda, TX has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,500
To$1,720
↑ $220
1 Bed
From$1,590
To$1,840
↑ $250
2 Bed
From$1,880
To$2,190
↑ $310
3 Bed
From$2,380
To$2,870
↑ $490
Buda, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,590–$1,590/mo

Denver, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,620–$2,540/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 Buda, TX
$9,137
Monthly in Denver, CO
$1,637
Difference

Home Values

Buda
Denver
$361K
Median Value
$513K
↓ -5.4%
YoY Change
↓ -4.2%
↑ +18.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +13%
$361K
Price Range
$352K - $933K

Homes in Denver are 42% more expensive than Buda

Calculate payment - BudaCalculate payment - Denver

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $6.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$550
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.4%
Rate difference

Buda, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Denver, 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

Buda, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Denver, 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.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Buda, TX: No data yet
Denver, CO
32/100
1% sidewalk tags · 3.5% cycling tags

Environment

Buda
Denver
52 Moderate
Air Quality
55 Moderate
42.6%
Good Air Days
35.2%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Buda, TX to Denver, 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 Denver, CO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Buda, TX. 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 Buda to Denver moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Buda, TX vs Denver, CO

How do the cost estimates for Buda, TX and Denver, CO compare?

Denver, CO has a modeled overall cost index 17.3% higher than Buda, TX. 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 Buda, TX, the model estimates $169,640 in Denver, 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 Buda, TX and Denver, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,880/month in Buda, TX and $2,190/month in Denver, 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.

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

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Buda, TX on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $430/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $401/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $230/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $151/mo
5.Columbus, OH
Save $101/mo

Similar cost to Denver, CO

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