2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Carlsbad, NM vs Boulder, CO

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Boulder or is it cheaper to live in Carlsbad?
- Boulder is 81.4% more expensive than Carlsbad.

Which city has more affordable housing, Boulder or Carlsbad?
- Boulder housing costs are 536.3% more expensive than Carlsbad housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Carlsbad or is Health Care more affordable in Boulder.
- Health related expenses are 0.7% less in Boulder.
 Carlsbad, NMBoulder, COUnited States
 Overall  Unlock141.3100
 Food & Groceries92.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock85.5100
 Housing50.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$997,100$338,100
 Utilities87  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.2100
 Miscellaneous83.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Carlsbad    16 Reviews

I've only been here for a few months, but I can quickly sum up this town as a rundown truck stop, perpetually buffeted by relentless wind, dirt, and hot air. The gas  More

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Over 3 years ago

We used to visit here every few years from Michigan just to see the Living Desert State Park. A very long way to drive to spend a a couple of days in this hauntingly  More

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Been here 9 years. Very difficult place. Price gouging, extremely expensive to live here. Crazy amounts of crime, cops do nothing. Very crowded, bad traffic and crazy  More

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Reviews for Boulder    55 Reviews

Outside of the university, Boulder had a very distinctive "wealthy hippy" feel. A lot of alternative medicine and a matching ethos. This is changing some among my  More

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We moved here from Texas about 4 years ago and love it here! The amazing sense of community and high regard for the environment are two of the main reasons we love  More

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Over 5 years ago

Most people do much worse than Boulder. I'm the most critical person I've ever met who is never happy or satisfied -- so that's a pretty huge compliment.   More

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