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Mohamed Oun
Denver
#14 of 124
North America

Denver

CO, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Denver compare to Dallas?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Denver is 13% better off vs in Dallas

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Denver compared to Dallas, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$165,000
+$30K (+22%) vs Dallas
Based on 628 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$110,715
+$16K (+17%) vs Dallas
Tax Rate: 33%

Community Insights

New
8.1/10

Denver offers a compelling lifestyle-first proposition for software engineers, blending high-tier tech salaries with elite access to the outdoors. The data supports this, showing an impressive #9 rank in purchasing power, meaning your dollar goes much further here than in coastal hubs. While the median SWE salary of ~$160k is lucrative, the city is grappling with growing pains, including rising housing costs and downtown safety issues that many residents find concerning.

Socially, the city is defined by its activity-based culture; people meet on hiking trails and at breweries rather than networking events. However, transplants should be prepared for a car-dependent lifestyle and potential frustration with mountain traffic. Ultimately, it is a haven for those who want their career to fund their adventures, rather than be their whole life.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Dallas.

Rankings

Net Income

Top 10%

#13

of 124 cities

$110,715/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 11%

#14

of 124 cities

Home Affordability

Top 17%

#21

of 124 cities

≈3.4 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Denver compared to Dallas?

Avg. Property Price
$4,699 / m²
21% cheaper than Dallas
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Denver to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
4% more expensive than Dallas
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Denver

Google logo
Google
Amazon logo
Amazon
Workday logo
Workday
World-class outdoor access with the Rocky Mountains just an hour away for skiing, hiking, and climbing.
  • 300+ days of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest tech hubs in the US.
  • High purchasing power (#9 globally) due to competitive tech salaries (median ~$160k) relative to local costs.
  • A laid-back work culture that prioritizes work-life balance and weekend adventures over the "grind" mentality of coastal hubs.
  • Thriving microbrewery and social scene, with a high density of taprooms and dog-friendly venues.
  • Strong tech ecosystem with a mix of startups, aerospace presence, and satellite offices for major tech giants (e.g., Google, Palantir).
  • Housing affordability is significantly better than SF or NYC, with a purchase affordability rank of #21.

    • The Bad

    • Downtown safety concerns, with frequent reports of property crime, theft, and uneasiness in the city center (Safety Index 52/100).
    • Rising cost of living, particularly rent and housing prices, which have spiked due to the influx of tech workers.
    • Public transportation is often viewed as insufficient or unsafe, making a car practically mandatory for exploring the mountains.
    • Seasonal wildfire smoke can severely impact air quality during summer months.
    • Dating imbalances often jokingly referred to as "Men-ver," though some locals debate the severity of this ratio.
    • Traffic congestion on I-70 heading into the mountains on weekends is a major frustration for skiers and hikers.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Moving to Denver is logistically straightforward for domestic transplants but presents the standard high hurdles for internationals due to the US visa system (H1B/Green Card complexities). Culturally, the city is open and friendly, though "natives" can be protective against the influx of remote workers driving up prices. English is mandatory for work and social life. The expat community is decent but overshadowed by a massive community of domestic transplants from states like California and Texas.

    Who Is This City For?

    Outdoor enthusiasts (skiers, climbers, hikers) who value sunshine and proximity to nature above urban density. It is also excellent for mid-career engineers seeking better housing affordability without sacrificing salary. City-slickers who rely on public transit and crave a 24/7 bustling metropolis vibe should likely avoid it.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather6.5/10+71% vs Dallas
    Safety52+7%
    Pollution45+9%
    Events6-40%
    6.5/10TechCities weather score vs 3.8/10 in Dallas

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    19°C(vs 25°C in Dallas)
    Average Low
    5°C(vs 15°C in Dallas)
    Sunshine Hours
    3,107h/yr+257h/yr(+9%)
    Hottest Month High
    31°C(vs 35°C in Dallas)
    Coldest Month Low
    -5°C(vs 4°C in Dallas)
    Rainy Days
    50/yr-34/yr(-41%)

    Community & Quality

    Denver community pulse

    Denver has 6 Luma events listed.

    40% fewer events than Dallas.

    Comfortable Weather

    Top 27%

    #33

    of 124 cities

    65/100 weather score

    Current value

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #55

    of 124 cities

    44.9/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Middle of the pack

    #60

    of 124 cities

    6 events on luma

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Middle of the pack

    #72

    of 124 cities

    51.9/100

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Middle of the pack

    #72

    of 124 cities

    33%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 21%

    #99

    of 124 cities

    64/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    3.4 years
    1.7 years quicker than Dallas
    Muggy Days
    0/yr-109/yr(-100%)
    Cloud Cover
    37%(same as Dallas)