City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 1.8% higher than in Colorado Springs, CO. Someone earning $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO would need about $101,800 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,464 in Colorado Springs, CO. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 23% in Colorado Springs, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,088 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.3% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Worcester, MA ($109,246 → $120,548), while prices change by +1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.4% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Colorado Springs, CO | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,803 in Worcester | $98,229 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,088/yr.
62 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,088/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Worcester, MA | Real change, Colorado Springs → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $69,905 | +8.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $84,579 | +8.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $101,375 | +8.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $120,548 | +8.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $142,452 | +8.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $82,810 | $81,343 (+33.0%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $146,950 | $144,347 (+7.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $94,070 | $92,404 (+8.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $100,240 | $98,464 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.