Calera, AL vs Denver, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Denver, CO has a modeled overall cost index 33.0% higher than Calera, AL.

Calera, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,640 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Calera, AL 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: $2,898/month in Denver, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $184,776 in Denver, CO

Regional cost estimates: Calera, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Denver, CO uses Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 33.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,898
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$34.8K
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.

Calera, AL

Population:18K
Cost Index:
82.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$251K

Denver, CO

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

Planning the move to Denver?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Calera, AL

The Heart of Dixie

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 18K residents.

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: Calera, AL 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
↑ 97.4%
Calera, AL
$1,975
Denver, CO
$3,898
Difference
$1,923
more
Transportation
↑ 27.9%
Calera, AL
$1,372
Denver, CO
$1,754
Difference
$382
more
Other
↑ 18.6%
Calera, AL
$1,796
Denver, CO
$2,129
Difference
$334
more
Healthcare
↑ 26.0%
Calera, AL
$602
Denver, CO
$758
Difference
$157
more
Groceries
↑ 10.0%
Calera, AL
$1,123
Denver, CO
$1,235
Difference
$113
more
All Utilities
↓ 1.6%
Calera, AL
$633
Denver, CO
$623
Difference
$10.11
less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

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

Calera, AL 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$1,320
To$1,720
↑ $400
1 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,840
↑ $350
2 Bed
From$1,640
To$2,190
↑ $550
3 Bed
From$2,050
To$2,870
↑ $820
Calera, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$1,490/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 Calera, AL
$10,398
Monthly in Denver, CO
$2,898
Difference

Home Values

Calera
Denver
$251K
Median Value
$513K
↑ +0.5%
YoY Change
↓ -4.2%
↑ +29.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +13%
$251K
Price Range
$352K - $933K

Homes in Denver are 104% more expensive than Calera

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $860
Per year
Monthly Difference
$71.67
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Calera, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

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

Calera, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

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

Environment

Calera
Denver
57 Moderate
Air Quality
55 Moderate
26%
Good Air Days
35.2%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Calera, AL 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 Calera, AL. 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 Calera 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: Calera, AL vs Denver, CO

How do the cost estimates for Calera, AL and Denver, CO compare?

Denver, CO has a modeled overall cost index 33.0% higher than Calera, AL. 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 Calera, AL, the model estimates $184,776 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 Calera, AL and Denver, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,640/month in Calera, AL 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 Alabama and Colorado on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Denver, CO

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison