When you live in a place as beautiful as we do, it's gonna cost you. If you've bought or rented a home recently, you know this is true. However, there are some towns in our area that are cheaper than others. That's why we decided to find out what town on the Western Slope is more affordable than others.

We used Sperling's Best Places website to compare all of the major cities in Western Colorado. The ratings are based on food, housing, utilities, transportation, health and some other miscellaneous costs. What we learned is interesting.

Here's the premise. You make $30,000 a year in Grand Junction. (Note: this means you are not allowed to work in radio as that is WAY too much money.) Based on the cost of living, how much would you need to make in other area towns to maintain the same quality of life?
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $31,807 in Moab,
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $29,497 in Montrose.
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $29,387 in Rifle.
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $28,697 in Parachute.
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $27,542 in Olathe.

Congratulations, Olathe! Looks like you are the Western Slope capital for the frugal! But, what about the different Grand Junction "burbs"? Here's what we found about the different suburbs around the city.

  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $30,592 in Palisade,
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $27,335 in Clifton.
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $31,303 in Orchard Mesa,
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $30,859 in Fruita,
  • If you make $30,000 in Grand Junction, you would need to make $31,451 in Fruitvale,

Yes, my hood in Clifton wins yet another award for being cheap. Feel free to check out the comparisons for yourself at the Sperling site. Oh, and if you have a big fancy house in Fruitvale, we need to borrow $10. Thanks.

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