Westcliffe, CO vs Duncan: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Westcliffe, CO leads on digital nomad suitability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Westcliffe, CO is approximately 1% less expensive than Duncan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Westcliffe, CO a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Westcliffe, CO has a FIRE Score of 79/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 90, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Westcliffe, CO is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Westcliffe, CO
United StatesAbout Westcliffe, CO
Westcliffe is a tiny mountain town of 435 people at 2392 m, so come for the dry air, the 90/100 safety index, and a crime index of 8/100, not for big-city convenience. Rents are steep for the size: $1,200/mo for a one-bedroom in the center and $2,500/mo for three bedrooms, while a single person spends about $1,100/mo excluding rent against a $3,000/mo average net salary. The 79/100 expat and FIRE scores plus a 77/100 digital nomad score make it a real option if you work remotely and hate crowds, though the 74/100 retiree score and Good healthcare access mean you should plan around limited local services. Bring a car and a tolerance for isolation, because 9 km to COS is the only airport fact that matters here.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$1,186/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Duncan
Duncan is a tiny town of 5 thousand people where a single adult can live on $1,100/mo, and a 1-bedroom outside the centre runs $1,035/mo. The tradeoff is a small expat community and a local net salary of $3,074/mo, so remote work matters more than local wages. With an 86/100 expat score, 85/100 safety index, and 2 km to YGG, it suits quiet savers who do not need big-city noise.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
$1,250/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Westcliffe, CO | Duncan |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1200 | $1209.87 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $950 | $1034.53 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2500 | $2267.78 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1950 | $2080.75 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 150Mbps | 90Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Westcliffe, CO | Duncan |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | N/A | $1,841/mo |
| Excluding rent | N/A | $806/mo |
| Rent | N/A | $1,035/mo |
| Groceries | N/A | $269/mo |
| Dining out | N/A | $175/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | N/A | $132/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | N/A | $170/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $60.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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