According to Realtor.com, the median listing price of homes in Colorado as of June 2026 is $575,000, with the median rent sitting at $1,780 per month. If you’re looking to retire on a monthly retirement budget of $2,000, surrounded by the natural beauty of Colorado’s mountains, parks and rivers, these numbers don’t bode well for you. However, there are some Colorado communities where renting for $2,000 or less is actually a possibility.
If you’re really lucky, eligible retirees may also qualify for additional benefits that can leave more money in their savings accounts. For instance, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR), Coloradans who are at least 65 years old — or surviving spouses who are at least 58 years old — may qualify for the Property Tax, Rent, and Heat (PTC) Rebate. If you’re a low-income household earning $19,094 or less as an individual — or $25,788 or less as a joint-filing couple — you could receive a maximum annual rebate of $1,178.
According to Zillow, the national average rent as of July 2026 is about $2,000. As per the United States Census Bureau, between 2020 and 2024, rents increased around the country in 626 counties. In addition, Denver, Weld, and Adams counties experienced some of the largest rent increases, making it even more valuable to know where rents remain relatively affordable.
1. Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, according to July 2026 data provided by Trulia, offers retirees a bit of a break with an average rent of $1,995 per month. While not far off from the national average, it’s still less than the goal of $2,000, and if you choose an apartment over semi-detached and fully detached homes, you could bring that down to an average of $1,617 per month. For individuals or couples looking for a one- or two-bedroom apartment or condo, Trulia places those averages at $1,423 and $1,743, respectively. Even if you’re not bringing in an upper-class income in Colorado, those figures are well below the Social Security Administration’s average benefit check of $2,071 as of January 2026, which suggests that Fort Collins could be accessible to a wide array of retirees…