Broomfield County, CO vs Alamosa County, CO: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Alamosa County, CO is cheaper than Broomfield County, CO.

Moving to Alamosa County, CO is estimated to save $22,828 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Alamosa County, COSave about $22,828 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Broomfield County, CO is about $33,585 in Alamosa County, CO.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $1,060 per year. Housing saves $13,177 per year.

Housing: $13,177 lower in Alamosa County, CO

Taxes: $6,896 lower in Alamosa County, CO

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $1,060 higher in Alamosa County, CO

Food: $46 higher in Alamosa County, CO

Transport: $216 higher in Alamosa County, CO

Broomfield County, COAlamosa County, CO
Equivalent salary in Alamosa County, CO
$33,585
-32.83% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Broomfield County, CO: $157,926
Median Income in Alamosa County, CO: $62,874
Living Index in Broomfield County, CO 44.03%
Living Index in Alamosa County, CO 74.28%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Broomfield County, CO to Alamosa 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 Broomfield County, CO to Alamosa County, CO is estimated to save $22,828 per year. A $50,000 salary in Broomfield County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $33,585 in Alamosa County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -32.83% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,177 per year lower (-58.25%); Taxes is $6,896 per year lower (-44.11%).

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 Broomfield County, CO and Alamosa County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Broomfield County, CO would need to be about $33,585 in Alamosa County, CO, or $16,415 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 44.0% of median family income in Broomfield County, CO and 74.3% in Alamosa County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $13,177 per year lower in Alamosa County, CO than in Broomfield County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Alamosa County, CO changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $46 per year higher in Alamosa County, CO than in Broomfield County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Alamosa County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $216 per year higher in Alamosa County, CO than in Broomfield 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 Alamosa County, CO.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $1,060 per year higher in Alamosa County, CO than in Broomfield County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Alamosa County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,077 per year lower in Alamosa County, CO than in Broomfield County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Alamosa County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Broomfield County, CO and Alamosa County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Alamosa County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $6,896 per year lower in Alamosa County, CO than in Broomfield County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Alamosa 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 Alamosa County, CO.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Alamosa County, CO
Annual Increase:

$1,060 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Alamosa County, CO.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Alamosa County, CO
Annual Savings:

$13,177 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Alamosa County, CO.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-58% lower
Food1% higher
Transport2% higher
Healthcare20% higher
Other Costs-48% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-44% lower

In Alamosa County, CO, modeled annual costs are $46,703 compared with $69,531 in Broomfield County, CO.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Alamosa County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Alamosa County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Broomfield County, CO is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Broomfield County, CO vs Alamosa County, CO Cost of Living (2026)