2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Denver, CO vs El Cajon, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in El Cajon or is it cheaper to live in Denver?
- El Cajon is 21.4% more expensive than Denver.

Which city has more affordable housing, El Cajon or Denver?
- El Cajon housing costs are 28.0% more expensive than Denver housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Denver or is Health Care more affordable in El Cajon.
- Health related expenses are 6.1% more in El Cajon.
 Denver, COEl Cajon, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.9100
 Food & Groceries101.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock89.0100
 Housing183.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$727,300$338,100
 Utilities96  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock124.8100
 Miscellaneous152.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Denver    470 Reviews

During my 25 years in Denver, I’ve witnessed trends found in other metro areas: homeless camps, panhandlers, worsening traffic, increased crime and rapidly appreciating  More

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I've lived in the Denver area for about eight years now. Moved here for college planning to get out as soon as I was done with college, and predictably got stuck  More

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I've lived in the city since I was born (1998) and I just was ready to get out. I'm a Denver native and I am ashamed of my city. I moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  More

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Reviews for El Cajon    10 Reviews

Stay out of East El Cajon. The people that live there don't like  More

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Housing less expensive then San Diego, wages the same. A total package of people from different backgrounds (ethnic) which is  More

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El Cajon and La Mesa are about a dozen miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Fletcher Hills, in particular, is a community within El Cajon on the boarder of La Mesa/Mt.  More

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