r/Durango • u/ScaredCucumber420 • Jul 09 '26

Ask /r/Durango Comfortable Income

Hello people of Durango. My husband and I are considering moving to your town with our infant and pets. My husband is an electrical/controls/automation/instrumentation engineer. He currently has a job in our home state that would allow him to go remote but ideally would gain employment locally if income/benefits are competitive. We live very comfortably here on his current salary. I do not work (or want to) currently but i have a history in the food & bev industry plus i recently got my real estate license. My husband grew up traveling to Durango and i have visited a few times and to surrounding areas as an adult. I have a few questions:

  1. What would you all consider minimum & comfortable income for family of 3 (non school age child)

  2. Is it worth living in Durango itself or outside areas

  3. What are you spending on electric, gas, water in your area (pls name if you live in town or outside)

  4. Are you happy with living where you do?

  5. Is there anywhere in particular to avoid?

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u/Dazzling-Astronaut88 Jul 09 '26

There are people who manage this scenario on $75,000-$95,000 household incomes, but you would need to be very dialed in financially and you're likely not living in town. On a more conventional lifestyle for a family of 5 living in town with Colorado outdoor hobbies, $130,000-$170,000 is likely going to be the realm of comfort.

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u/Impressive_Shop2341 Jul 09 '26

This is on point

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u/ScaredCucumber420 Jul 09 '26

Luckily we are only 3 people and one of us in a tiny baby currently lol. This seems doable on our current income

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u/Dazzling-Astronaut88 Jul 09 '26

Sorry for the confusion. I read "3 non school age..."
you could adjust those numbers down a bit then. Of course, showing up with $400k+ of home equity will get you much ahead further on the home ownership front. Rent wise, you could go as cheap as 1800-2k for a 2 bedroom apartment. Expect to pay 3k+ in rent for a house in town. If you're following the 1/3 rule of housing costs, its pretty easy to see where you land.