One of the top issues on the minds of Colorado voters this election is the cost of living, with about 15% in our Voter Voices survey saying they intend to focus first on the economy as they mark their ballots. 

Coloradans are concerned about the price of housing, groceries, gas, utility bills and everything else it takes to keep households running. That’s not shocking considering that the average household has spent $34,194 more since 2020 due to inflation, according to research from the Common Sense Institute. 

“That’s the cost of higher education tuition,” said Kelly Caufield, the institute’s executive director. “All Coloradans should care about the economy and the cost of living here.” 

While economists say inflation is “cooling,” Coloradans are still feeling the economic crush of the past few years. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $2,000 in Denver. The average price of a home in Colorado is now above $540,000. Food prices in Colorado and across the country rose 25% from 2019 to 2023.