City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Detroit, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Colorado Springs, CO (100.7) and Detroit, MI (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO goes as far as $99,600 in Detroit, MI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,122 in Detroit, MI. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO and 18% in Detroit, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $308 a year higher in Detroit, MI than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.5% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Detroit, MI ($109,246 → $117,402), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.9% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
- Detroit, MI: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Colorado Springs, CO | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,594 in Detroit | $100,408 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,122/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $52,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 94.7 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 98.8 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 102.6 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Detroit, MI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$308/yr.
70 Strong offer
Detroit, MI → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$308/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Detroit, MI is in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Detroit, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Detroit, MI | Real change, Colorado Springs → Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $68,081 | +7.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $82,372 | +7.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $98,729 | +7.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $117,402 | +7.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $138,734 | +7.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Detroit, MI | Detroit pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $65,210 | $65,476 (+7.1%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $130,760 | $131,293 (−2.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $80,650 | $80,979 (−4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $97,280 | $97,677 (+1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.