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

Which city costs less?

Crested Butte, CO has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% higher than Ridgway, CO.

Ridgway, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,610 / month
Crested Butte, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,660 / 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 Ridgway, CO and Crested Butte, 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: $664/month in Crested Butte, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,968 in Crested Butte, CO

Regional cost estimates: Ridgway, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Crested Butte, CO uses Colorado Springs, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 10.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$664
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$8.0K
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.

Ridgway, CO

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

Crested Butte, CO

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

Planning the move to Crested Butte?

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

Ridgway, CO

The Centennial State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Crested Butte, CO

The Centennial State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ridgway, CO vs Crested Butte, 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
↑ 10.5%
Ridgway, CO
$2,384
Crested Butte, CO
$2,634
Difference
$250
more
Other
↑ 10.5%
Ridgway, CO
$1,660
Crested Butte, CO
$1,834
Difference
$174
more
Transportation
↑ 10.5%
Ridgway, CO
$1,177
Crested Butte, CO
$1,301
Difference
$123
more
Groceries
↑ 5.1%
Ridgway, CO
$1,096
Crested Butte, CO
$1,152
Difference
$56.02
more
Healthcare
↑ 5.1%
Ridgway, CO
$686
Crested Butte, CO
$721
Difference
$35.08
more
All Utilities
↑ 5.1%
Ridgway, CO
$497
Crested Butte, CO
$523
Difference
$25.42
more

🏠Rent Comparison

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

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/mo

Crested Butte, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,370–$1,490/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 Ridgway, CO
$8,164
Monthly in Crested Butte, CO
$664
Difference

Home Values

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

Homes in Crested Butte are 20% more expensive than 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

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

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

Additional Tax Information

Ridgway, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

Crested Butte, 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

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

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

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

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

Crested Butte, CO has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% higher than Ridgway, 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 Ridgway, CO, the model estimates $157,968 in Crested Butte, 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 Ridgway, CO and Crested Butte, CO?

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

Similar cost to Crested Butte, CO

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison