Housing Market Analysis · 2026
Rent vs Buy in Denver, CO
Local prices pre-filled. Adjust any input to match your situation.
Should you buy in Denver?
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25x — strongly favors renting
At 25x, Denver, CO is expensive relative to rents. Renters who invest the difference can often build more wealth unless home prices appreciate significantly.
Monthly Cost Gap
Buying currently costs roughly $2,179 more per month than renting the median unit in Denver, CO. That gap is the "opportunity cost" renters can invest — which is why the breakeven point matters so much here.
Price Trends
Home prices in Denver, CO declined 3.2% year-over-year, which creates potential buying opportunities but also signals some market softness worth monitoring.
Affordability
The income needed to qualify for a median home in Denver, CO is approximately $139K. Many middle-income households are weighing whether to buy now or continue renting.
Interactive Calculator — Denver Pre-filled
Values are set to Denver, CO medians. Change anything to match your scenario.
At 10 years
Renting wins by $261K
No breakeven in selected timeframe.
Monthly Cost (Year 1)
Wealth Over Time
| Year | Buyer | Renter | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $101K | $165K | Rent |
| 2 | $125K | $203K | Rent |
| 3 | $151K | $245K | Rent |
| 4 | $177K | $289K | Rent |
| 5 | $204K | $335K | Rent |
| 6 | $232K | $385K | Rent |
| 7 | $262K | $438K | Rent |
| 8 | $293K | $495K | Rent |
| 9 | $325K | $556K | Rent |
| 10 | $359K | $620K | Rent |
Common Questions — Renting vs Buying in Denver
Other CO Markets to Compare
See how the rent-vs-buy math stacks up in other CO cities.