TheUtilityCalc
⚖️ Metro Utility Cost Comparison • 2026 Fiscal Records

Denver, CO vs Colorado Springs, CO

Relocating or comparing cost of living? Here is the complete head-to-head utility bill breakdown between Denver and Colorado Springs, based on public utility commission filings and municipal meter schedules.

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Denver

Denver County • Pop. 715,522

Average Bill: $335/mo
Cost Variance
+$16/mo
Annual Difference: $197/yr

Denver is approximately 5% more expensive than Colorado Springs in overall monthly utility bills.

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Colorado Springs

El Paso County • Pop. 1,188,000

Average Bill: $319/mo
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Executive Summary & Citability Passage

EIA / NOAA / Municipal Survey 2026

In 2026, living in Denver, CO incurs an average monthly utility expense of $335, compared to $319 per month in Colorado Springs, CO. This reflects a 5% higher overall household utility cost, saving homeowners approximately $16 monthly or $197 each calendar year. Residential power tariffs in Denver average $0.142 per kWh supplied by Xcel Energy Colorado, whereas Colorado Springs residents pay $0.142 per kWh through Xcel Energy Colorado. Municipal water and sewer charges also diverge, with Denver averaging $31.00 in combined monthly meter baselines versus $31.00 in Colorado Springs. Climatologically, Denver registers 980 Cooling Degree Days and 5800 Heating Degree Days, compared to 2123 CDD and 4122 HDD in Colorado Springs, creating distinctly different seasonal heating and cooling load patterns across winter and summer quarters. Overall, verified 2026 public tariff benchmarks confirm that Colorado Springs maintains more economical municipal utility infrastructure than Denver.

Interactive Simulation

Household Sizing Simulator

Select your home type to adjust estimated monthly consumption for Denver and Colorado Springs.

Denver Est.
$335/mo
Power:$140
Water & Sewer:$84
Gas & Trash:$98
Projected Variance
+$16/mo

Colorado Springs saves your household roughly $197 per year at this consumption tier.

Colorado Springs Est.
$319/mo
Power:$140
Water & Sewer:$84
Gas & Trash:$98

Head-to-Head Utility Tariff Breakdown

Direct comparison of published rates, electric tariffs, and municipal meter charges.

EIA-861 Calibrated
Utility Component Denver, CO Colorado Springs, CO
⚡ Residential Electric Rate ($/kWh) $0.142 / kWh $0.142 / kWh
Electric Monthly Customer Base Fee $12.50/mo $12.50/mo
Electric Provider & Market Structure
Xcel Energy Colorado
Regulated Monopoly Utility
Xcel Energy Colorado
Regulated Monopoly Utility
♨️ Natural Gas Rate ($/Therm) $1.18 / Therm $1.18 / Therm
Natural Gas Fixed Customer Charge $15.50/mo $15.50/mo
💧 Water Base Meter Charge (5/8" - 3/4") $16.50/mo $16.50/mo
Water Tier 1 Volumetric (per 1,000 gal) $3.10 $3.10
Water Tier 2 Conservation (per 1,000 gal) $5.40 $5.40
Wastewater / Sewer Rates Base: $14.50/mo
Volumetric: $5.80/1k gal 		Base: $14.50/mo
Volumetric: $5.80/1k gal
🗑️ Curbside Solid Waste & Recycling $29.00/mo $29.00/mo
Stormwater Drainage Clean Water Fee $6.80/mo $6.80/mo
Initial Move-in Deposit / Connection Fee Deposit: $150 – $250
Turn-on: $22.00 		Deposit: $150 – $250
Turn-on: $22.00

Climate & Seasonal HVAC Load Drivers

NOAA degree-day data dictating peak air conditioning and heating power spikes.

NOAA 1991–2020 Normals
Climate Indicator Denver, CO Colorado Springs, CO
☀️ Cooling Degree Days (CDD) 980 CDD 2,123 CDD
❄️ Heating Degree Days (HDD) 5,800 HDD 4,122 HDD
Peak Summer AC Bill Volatility +38% Summer Spike +44% Summer Spike
Regional Climate Summary Semi-arid continental climate at 5,280 ft altitude with cold winters and sunny summer days. NOAA 1991-2020 climate averages document 2,123 Cooling Degree Days and 4,122 Heating Degree Days annually across El Paso County.

Clean Energy & Solar Economics

Rooftop solar irradiance and net metering rules to mitigate high utility bills.

NREL Solar Data
Solar Component Denver, CO Colorado Springs, CO
☀️ Daily Peak Sun Hours 5.3 hrs/day 4.8 hrs/day
Net Metering / Export Compensation Colorado PUC 1:1 Net Metering with annual reconciliation rollover. Colorado PUC 1:1 Net Metering with annual reconciliation rollover.
City Solar Calculator Denver Solar Estimator → Colorado Springs Solar Estimator →
🏙️ Denver Official Estimator

Denver, CO Utility Calculator

Access the interactive multi-utility calculator, municipal moving checklists, and verified billing schedules for Denver.

ZIP: denver Open Denver Hub →
🏙️ Colorado Springs Official Estimator

Colorado Springs, CO Utility Calculator

Access the interactive multi-utility calculator, municipal moving checklists, and verified billing schedules for Colorado Springs.

ZIP: colorado-springs Open Colorado Springs Hub →
Common Inquiries

Frequently Asked Questions: Denver vs Colorado Springs

Direct answers to key cost of living and utility comparison questions.

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Colorado Springs for utilities? ▼
Colorado Springs, CO is approximately 5% cheaper than Denver, CO in overall monthly utility bills ($319/mo vs $335/mo). A typical household saves around $16 per month or $197 annually.
How do residential electric rates compare per kilowatt-hour? ▼
Residential electricity in Denver costs $0.142 per kWh supplied by Xcel Energy Colorado, compared to $0.142 per kWh in Colorado Springs served by Xcel Energy Colorado. For a home consuming 1,000 kWh per month, this rate difference accounts for $0.00 in monthly energy charges before fixed customer meter charges.
What is the water and sewer rate difference between Denver and Colorado Springs? ▼
In Denver, the minimum fixed water meter charge is $16.50/mo plus $14.50/mo sewer baseline. In Colorado Springs, the base water fee is $16.50/mo with $14.50/mo sewer baseline. Volumetric Tier 1 water is $3.10/1k gal in Denver versus $3.10/1k gal in Colorado Springs.
How does weather and climate impact summer and winter power bills? ▼
Denver logs 980 Cooling Degree Days with a 38% summer AC bill surge. Conversely, Colorado Springs records 2,123 CDD with a 44% summer surge. Heating Degree Days measure 5,800 in Denver versus 4,122 in Colorado Springs.
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Denver vs Aurora, CO $335 vs $319 → Denver vs New York City, NY $335 vs $440 → Denver vs New York, NY $335 vs $439 → Denver vs Los Angeles, CA $335 vs $395 →

📍 Popular Comparisons for Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs vs Aurora, CO $319 vs $319 → Colorado Springs vs New York City, NY $319 vs $440 → Colorado Springs vs New York, NY $319 vs $439 → Colorado Springs vs Los Angeles, CA $319 vs $395 →
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Official Municipal Filings

Tariff data is sourced directly from city council utility rate resolutions, Public Utility Commission (PUC) filings, and retail provider dockets.

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Federal Energy Benchmarks

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Form EIA-861M residential sales data is leveraged to calibrate regional seasonal consumption models.

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USGS & NOAA Climate Standards

Water and sewer discharge volume models use USGS per capita metrics; HVAC load draws from NOAA Cooling & Heating Degree Day (CDD/HDD) indexes.

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Est. Monthly Bill
$335/mo