Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Arapahoe County, CO would need to be about $37,005 in Costilla County, CO, or $12,995 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Arapahoe County, CO vs Costilla County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Costilla County, CO is cheaper than Arapahoe County, CO.
Moving to Costilla County, CO is estimated to save $16,332 per year.
Cheaper County
Costilla County, COSave about $16,332 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Arapahoe County, CO is about $37,005 in Costilla County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,766 per year. Housing saves $11,279 per year.
Housing: $11,279 lower in Costilla County, CO
Taxes: $4,697 lower in Costilla County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,063 higher in Costilla County, CO
Food: $242 higher in Costilla County, CO
Transport: $1,766 higher in Costilla County, CO
Arapahoe County, CO→Costilla County, CO
Equivalent salary in Costilla County, CO
$37,005
-25.99% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Arapahoe County, CO: $120,608
Median Income in Costilla County, CO: $55,491
Living Index in Arapahoe County, CO 52.11%
Living Index in Costilla County, CO 83.83%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Arapahoe County, CO to Costilla County, CO.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Arapahoe County, CO to Costilla County, CO is estimated to save $16,332 per year. A $50,000 salary in Arapahoe County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $37,005 in Costilla County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -25.99% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $11,279 per year lower (-57.07%); Taxes is $4,697 per year lower (-35.08%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Arapahoe County, CO and Costilla County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 52.1% of median family income in Arapahoe County, CO and 83.8% in Costilla County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $11,279 per year lower in Costilla County, CO than in Arapahoe County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Costilla County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $242 per year higher in Costilla County, CO than in Arapahoe County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Costilla County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,766 per year higher in Costilla County, CO than in Arapahoe County, CO. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Costilla County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,063 per year higher in Costilla County, CO than in Arapahoe County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Costilla County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,427 per year lower in Costilla County, CO than in Arapahoe County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Costilla County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Arapahoe County, CO and Costilla County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Costilla County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,697 per year lower in Costilla County, CO than in Arapahoe County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Costilla County, CO matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Costilla County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Costilla County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,766 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Costilla County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Costilla County, CO
Annual Savings:
$11,279 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Costilla County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -57% lower | |
| Food | 5% higher | |
| Transport | 14% higher | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -45% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -35% lower |
In Costilla County, CO, modeled annual costs are $46,519 compared with $62,851 in Arapahoe County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Costilla County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Costilla County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Arapahoe County, CO is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
