Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Boulder, CO
The average asking rent in Boulder, CO is $2,222/month as of 2026-08. That is +1.4% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,222/mo
as of 2026-08
Year-over-Year Change
+1.4%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Boulder, CO.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08 | $2,222 | -0.27% |
| 2026-07 | $2,228 | -0.13% |
| 2026-06 | $2,231 | +0.59% |
| 2026-05 | $2,218 | +0.91% |
| 2026-04 | $2,198 | +0.83% |
| 2026-03 | $2,180 | +1.25% |
| 2026-02 | $2,153 | +0.61% |
| 2026-01 | $2,140 | -0.37% |
| 2025-12 | $2,148 | -0.09% |
| 2025-11 | $2,150 | -0.42% |
| 2025-10 | $2,159 | +0.19% |
| 2025-09 | $2,155 | -1.69% |
| 2025-08 | $2,192 | -0.63% |
| 2025-07 | $2,206 | +0.05% |
| 2025-06 | $2,205 | +0.78% |
| 2025-05 | $2,188 | +0.92% |
| 2025-04 | $2,168 | +0.56% |
| 2025-03 | $2,156 | +0.19% |
| 2025-02 | $2,152 | -0.23% |
| 2025-01 | $2,157 | -0.46% |
| 2024-12 | $2,167 | +0.60% |
| 2024-11 | $2,154 | -0.42% |
| 2024-10 | $2,163 | -0.18% |
| 2024-09 | $2,167 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
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Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices