The deepest recession in nearly two decades made Colorado Springs a bargain last year as the cost of living fell to the lowest level in 19 years when compared with the national average, according to a survey of the nation’s 322 metropolitan areas.
Living costs in Colorado Springs were 7.7 percent below the national average in 2009, the lowest level for any full year since 1990, according to the quarterly survey by the Council for Community and Economic Research. A year ago, the area’s living costs were 7.2 percent below the national average. Living costs in the Springs have declined compared with the national average every year since 2003 and stayed below the average every quarter since early 2000.
Living costs in Boulder and Denver were above the national average last year, by 25.3 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively.
