Denver, CO · Riverside, CA

Cost of Living: Denver vs Riverside

Living in Denver, CO costs 0.6% less than in Riverside, CA: a $100,000 salary in Denver, CO buys what $100,624 buys in Riverside, CA, based on BEA regional price parities for 2024.

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Denver vs Riverside: prices, pay and housing

Denver, CORiverside, CA
BEA price parity (U.S. = 100)105.8106.4
Average salary, all jobs$81,690$65,160
Median salary, all jobs$62,320$48,400
Average salary adjusted for prices$77,225$61,216
Take-home on the average salary*$63,413$52,396
Typical home value$573,221$585,378
Median household income$102,339$86,031
Home price / household income5.66.8
Metro population2,977,0854,637,725

*Single filer, federal and state income tax and FICA (2026 rules); city income taxes included where we model them.

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Equivalent salary: Denver to Riverside

To keep the same standard of living when moving from Denver to Riverside, multiply your salary by 1.006.

Salary in DenverSame buying power in Riverside
$50,000 in Denver$50,312 in Riverside
$75,000 in Denver$75,468 in Riverside
$100,000 in Denver$100,624 in Riverside
$150,000 in Denver$150,936 in Riverside
$200,000 in Denver$201,248 in Riverside

Salaries for common jobs in Denver and Riverside

JobDenverRiversideAdjusted for prices
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$40,800$35,430$38,570 / $33,286
Stockers and Order Fillers$44,510$43,350$42,077 / $40,726
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$47,700$46,160$45,093 / $43,366
Fast Food and Counter Workers$38,240$41,250$36,150 / $38,753
Retail Salespersons$41,980$41,230$39,685 / $38,735
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$66,130$64,130$62,515 / $60,249
Cashiers$39,190$38,650$37,048 / $36,311
Registered Nurses$100,920$136,670$95,404 / $128,399
Office Clerks, General$57,860$48,180$54,697 / $45,264
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$55,220$49,840$52,202 / $46,824
General and Operations Managers$171,600$126,430$162,220 / $118,778
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$38,880$46,310$36,755 / $43,507
Security Guards$46,870$42,090$44,308 / $39,543
Waiters and Waitresses$51,870$45,660$49,035 / $42,897
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$42,130$44,240$39,827 / $41,563
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary

Adjusted = average salary divided by the BEA price parity: what it buys in a typical U.S. metro.

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Denver vs Riverside: questions

Is Denver more expensive than Riverside?

No. BEA prices are 105.8 in Denver, CO and 106.4 in Riverside, CA (U.S. = 100).

What salary do I need in Riverside to match $100,000 in Denver?

About $100,624, before taxes.

Where do salaries go further, Denver or Riverside?

Denver, CO: once prices are counted, its average salary buys more.

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