Families Struggle as Colorado Climbs to Third Most Expensive State

By Breeanna Jent | The Denver Gazette

Think of Colorado and what comes to mind?

Majestic mountain views; skiing, sledding, rafting, hiking and more in the Great Outdoors; alpine forests and golden plains; ample sunshine, craft beer and breathtaking sunsets. Just to scratch the surface.

But the cost of living and housing affordability in Colorado has drastically increased in recent years, gradually diminishing or even pushing these simple joys out of reach for the average person.

At the end of 2025 the Colorado Scorecard, a report released by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, found that while the state is improving or leading in key sectors such as business friendliness, health and wellness and gross domestic product, Colorado continues struggling with housing affordability and its overall cost of living.

Colorado is now the third-most expensive state in the country to live in, ranking 47th in affordability in 2025. Colorado ranked 46th for cost of living in 2024, and four years ago in 2022 had the 34th-highest cost of living nationally, a ranking that has dropped every year since, according to the chamber’s scorecard.

Housing affordability has worsened. Colorado ranks 48th in the country for housing affordability, down from 47th in 2024 and 41st in 2021, the scorecard shows.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE DENVER GAZETTE