Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would need to be about $34,040 in Montezuma County, CO, or $15,960 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Douglas County, CO vs Montezuma County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Montezuma County, CO is cheaper than Douglas County, CO.
Moving to Montezuma County, CO is estimated to save $23,014 per year.
Cheaper County
Montezuma County, COSave about $23,014 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Douglas County, CO is about $34,040 in Montezuma County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,010 per year. Housing saves $12,218 per year.
Housing: $12,218 lower in Montezuma County, CO
Taxes: $7,213 lower in Montezuma County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,010 higher in Montezuma County, CO
Food: $554 lower in Montezuma County, CO
Transport: $74 lower in Montezuma County, CO
Douglas County, CO→Montezuma County, CO
Equivalent salary in Montezuma County, CO
$34,040
-31.92% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Douglas County, CO: $164,967
Median Income in Montezuma County, CO: $76,992
Living Index in Douglas County, CO 43.71%
Living Index in Montezuma County, CO 63.75%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Douglas County, CO to Montezuma 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 Douglas County, CO to Montezuma County, CO is estimated to save $23,014 per year. A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $34,040 in Montezuma County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -31.92% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,218 per year lower (-53.47%); Taxes is $7,213 per year lower (-43.67%).
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 Douglas County, CO and Montezuma County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 43.7% of median family income in Douglas County, CO and 63.8% in Montezuma County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $12,218 per year lower in Montezuma County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Montezuma County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $554 per year lower in Montezuma County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Montezuma County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $74 per year lower in Montezuma County, CO than in Douglas 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 Montezuma County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,010 per year higher in Montezuma County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Montezuma County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,965 per year lower in Montezuma County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Montezuma County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Douglas County, CO and Montezuma County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Montezuma County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,213 per year lower in Montezuma County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Montezuma 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 Montezuma County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Montezuma County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,010 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Montezuma County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Montezuma County, CO
Annual Savings:
$12,218 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Montezuma County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -53% lower | |
| Food | -11% lower | |
| Transport | -1% lower | |
| Healthcare | 19% higher | |
| Other Costs | -46% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -44% lower |
In Montezuma County, CO, modeled annual costs are $49,085 compared with $72,099 in Douglas County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Montezuma County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Montezuma County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Douglas County, CO is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
