Crested Butte, CO vs Ridgway, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ridgway, CO has a modeled overall cost index 9.5% lower than Crested Butte, CO.

Crested Butte, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,660 / month
Ridgway, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,610 / 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 Crested Butte, CO and Ridgway, 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: $610/month in Ridgway, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,680 in Ridgway, CO

Regional cost estimates: Crested Butte, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Ridgway, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 9.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$610
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.3K
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.

Crested Butte, CO

Population:2K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.02M

Ridgway, CO

Population:1K
Cost Index:
73.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$850K

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Crested Butte, CO

The Centennial State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Ridgway, CO

The Centennial State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Crested Butte, CO vs Ridgway, 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
↓ 9.5%
Crested Butte, CO
$2,420
Ridgway, CO
$2,190
Difference
$230
less
Other
↓ 9.5%
Crested Butte, CO
$1,685
Ridgway, CO
$1,525
Difference
$160
less
Transportation
↓ 9.5%
Crested Butte, CO
$1,195
Ridgway, CO
$1,081
Difference
$113
less
Groceries
↓ 4.9%
Crested Butte, CO
$1,058
Ridgway, CO
$1,007
Difference
$51.46
less
Healthcare
↓ 4.9%
Crested Butte, CO
$663
Ridgway, CO
$630
Difference
$32.23
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.9%
Crested Butte, CO
$480
Ridgway, CO
$457
Difference
$23.36
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,265
To$1,230
↓ $35.00
1 Bed
From$1,430
To$1,310
↓ $120
2 Bed
From$1,660
To$1,610
↓ $50.00
3 Bed
From$2,310
To$2,240
↓ $70.00
Crested Butte, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,370–$1,490/mo

Ridgway, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/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 Crested Butte, CO
$6,890
Monthly in Ridgway, CO
$610
Difference

Home Values

Crested Butte
Ridgway
$1.02M
Median Value
$850K
↑ +3.9%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↑ +44.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +46%
$653K - $1.38M
Price Range
$850K

Homes in Ridgway are 16% less expensive than Crested Butte

Calculate payment - Crested ButteCalculate payment - Ridgway

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

Crested Butte, 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

Ridgway, 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

Crested Butte, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

Ridgway, 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

Crested Butte
Ridgway
49 Good
Air Quality
49 Good
55.2%
Good Air Days
55.2%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🔥🌊🌪
Top Hazards
🔥🌊🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
9 days
Heat Days >95°F
9 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
9 days
Heat Days >95°F
9 days

Before moving from Crested Butte, CO to Ridgway, 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 Ridgway, CO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Crested Butte, 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 Crested Butte to Ridgway moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Crested Butte, CO vs Ridgway, CO

How do the cost estimates for Crested Butte, CO and Ridgway, CO compare?

Ridgway, CO has a modeled overall cost index 9.5% lower than Crested Butte, 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 Crested Butte, CO, the model estimates $142,680 in Ridgway, 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 Crested Butte, CO and Ridgway, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,660/month in Crested Butte, CO and $1,610/month in Ridgway, 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.

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