A healthy community has a diverse and sustainable economy that pays livable wages and offers meaningful work. But what level of income is necessary to support a given size and type of household? A livable wage addresses the essential financial needs for basic living tools such as shelter, healthcare, childcare, and nutrition. When one earns less than a livable wage, he or she is forced to make undesirable choices such as working two or more jobs, working longer hours, making longer commutes, sharing a residence, or giving up basic items such as a vehicle or insurance.
In Region 9, the amount needed to be economically self-sufficient varies by geographic location. The 2024 Colorado minimum wage is $14.42 per hour, which amounts to $30,455 per year working full time. We found that in Region 9, Montezuma County is the least expensive ($91,519 annually), and Archuleta County is the most expensive place to live ($105,919 annually) for a family of four. Using housing costs specific to each community we found that Pagosa Springs is the most expensive community in the region for a family of four ($25.08 per hour for each working adult) due to the high cost of housing. Cortez ($18.93) and Town of Dolores ($18.74) are the least expensive communities for a family of four. This report presents livable wage estimates for each county/community in the region.
