Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Summit County, CO would need to be about $39,070 in Clear Creek County, CO, or $10,930 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Summit County, CO vs Clear Creek County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Clear Creek County, CO is cheaper than Summit County, CO.
Moving to Clear Creek County, CO is estimated to save $15,270 per year.
Cheaper County
Clear Creek County, COSave about $15,270 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Summit County, CO is about $39,070 in Clear Creek County, CO.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Clear Creek County, CO. Housing saves $5,437 per year.
Housing: $5,437 lower in Clear Creek County, CO
Taxes: $5,109 lower in Clear Creek County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,010 lower in Clear Creek County, CO
Food: $634 lower in Clear Creek County, CO
Transport: $1,195 lower in Clear Creek County, CO
Summit County, CO→Clear Creek County, CO
Equivalent salary in Clear Creek County, CO
$39,070
-21.86% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Summit County, CO: $129,246
Median Income in Clear Creek County, CO: $143,571
Living Index in Summit County, CO 54.04%
Living Index in Clear Creek County, CO 38.01%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Summit County, CO to Clear Creek 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 Summit County, CO to Clear Creek County, CO is estimated to save $15,270 per year. A $50,000 salary in Summit County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $39,070 in Clear Creek County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -21.86% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $5,437 per year lower (-28.84%); Taxes is $5,109 per year lower (-32.45%).
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 Summit County, CO and Clear Creek County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 54.0% of median family income in Summit County, CO and 38.0% in Clear Creek County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $5,437 per year lower in Clear Creek County, CO than in Summit County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Clear Creek County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $634 per year lower in Clear Creek County, CO than in Summit County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Clear Creek County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,195 per year lower in Clear Creek County, CO than in Summit 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 Clear Creek County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,010 per year lower in Clear Creek County, CO than in Summit County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Clear Creek County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,885 per year lower in Clear Creek County, CO than in Summit County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Clear Creek County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Summit County, CO and Clear Creek County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Clear Creek County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,109 per year lower in Clear Creek County, CO than in Summit County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Clear Creek 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 Clear Creek County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Clear Creek County, CO
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Clear Creek County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Clear Creek County, CO
Annual Savings:
$5,437 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Clear Creek County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -29% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | -7% lower | |
| Healthcare | -16% lower | |
| Other Costs | -25% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -32% lower |
In Clear Creek County, CO, modeled annual costs are $54,573 compared with $69,843 in Summit County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Clear Creek County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Clear Creek County, CO is a metropolitan location, while Summit County, CO is not a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
