City comparison
Denver, CO vs Stockton, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Denver, CO (105.8) and Stockton, CA (105.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Denver, CO goes as far as $99,300 in Stockton, CA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,754 a month in Denver, CO versus $1,395 in Stockton, CA. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Denver, CO and 23% in Stockton, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,379 a year higher in Stockton, CA than in Denver, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.1% moving from Denver, CO to Stockton, CA ($118,675 → $133,060), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.9% in real buying power.
- Denver, CO: price level 105.8 (pricier)
- Stockton, CA: price level 105.1 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Denver, CO | Stockton, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.8 | 105.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,345 in Stockton | $100,659 in Denver |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,754/mo | $1,395/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $62,320 | $48,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA |
Rent areas: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA and Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA. Metro areas: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO and Stockton-Lodi, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Denver | Stockton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 146.9 | 115.6 |
| Goods | 101.0 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 158.2 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 105.8 | 105.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Denver, CO → Stockton, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,379/yr.
71 Strong offer
Stockton, CA → Denver, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax −$1,379/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Denver, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Stockton, CA is in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Denver, CO to Stockton, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Denver, CO | Stockton, CA | Real change, Denver → Stockton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $77,161 | +12.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $93,358 | +12.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $111,896 | +12.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $133,060 | +12.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $157,236 | +12.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Denver, CO | Stockton, CA | Stockton pay in Denver dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,910 | $97,400 | $98,042 (+27.5%) |
| Software Developers | $137,610 | $138,550 | $139,464 (+1.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $100,020 | $83,570 | $84,121 (−15.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,130 | $134,580 | $135,467 (+34.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.