Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Boulder County, CO would need to be about $37,700 in Bent County, CO, or $12,300 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Boulder County, CO vs Bent County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Bent County, CO is cheaper than Boulder County, CO.
Moving to Bent County, CO is estimated to save $14,630 per year.
Cheaper County
Bent County, COSave about $14,630 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Boulder County, CO is about $37,700 in Bent County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,305 per year. Housing saves $8,604 per year.
Housing: $8,604 lower in Bent County, CO
Taxes: $3,999 lower in Bent County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,305 higher in Bent County, CO
Food: $1,073 lower in Bent County, CO
Transport: $745 higher in Bent County, CO
Boulder County, CO→Bent County, CO
Equivalent salary in Bent County, CO
$37,700
-24.6% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Boulder County, CO: $142,534
Median Income in Bent County, CO: $63,333
Living Index in Boulder County, CO 41.72%
Living Index in Bent County, CO 70.78%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Boulder County, CO to Bent 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 Boulder County, CO to Bent County, CO is estimated to save $14,630 per year. A $50,000 salary in Boulder County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $37,700 in Bent County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -24.6% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $8,604 per year lower (-48.91%); Taxes is $3,999 per year lower (-32.55%).
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 Boulder County, CO and Bent County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 41.7% of median family income in Boulder County, CO and 70.8% in Bent County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,604 per year lower in Bent County, CO than in Boulder County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Bent County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,073 per year lower in Bent County, CO than in Boulder County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Bent County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $745 per year higher in Bent County, CO than in Boulder 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 Bent County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,305 per year higher in Bent County, CO than in Boulder County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Bent County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,004 per year lower in Bent County, CO than in Boulder County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Bent County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Boulder County, CO and Bent County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Bent County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,999 per year lower in Bent County, CO than in Boulder County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Bent 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 Bent County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Bent County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,305 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Bent County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Bent County, CO
Annual Savings:
$8,604 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Bent County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -49% lower | |
| Food | -21% lower | |
| Transport | 6% higher | |
| Healthcare | 26% higher | |
| Other Costs | -43% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -33% lower |
In Bent County, CO, modeled annual costs are $44,830 compared with $59,460 in Boulder County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Bent County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Bent County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Boulder County, CO is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
