Fort Collins, CO Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Fort Collins, CO Summary

Cost of living in Fort Collins research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Fort Collins is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Colorado, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Fort Collins is 113, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Fort Collins is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Fort Collins ranks as the #60 cheapest in Colorado out of 111.

  • Fort Collins ranks as the #4,363 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Fort Collins is $431,300.

  • The median income in Fort Collins is $72,932.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
113
Fort Collins's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Fort Collins, CO?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Collins has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Colorado, Fort Collins has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Colorado's index of 104.

The standard of living in Fort Collins ranks as #60 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Fort Collins ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Centennial State.

For more reading on life in Fort Collins, check out:

60 out of 111
In Colorado
4,363 out of 6,412
In America

Fort Collins Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Collins. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Fort Collins is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Fort Collins is 90.

  • The Health index in Fort Collins is 97.

  • The Housing index in Fort Collins is 142.

  • The Transportation index in Fort Collins is 108.

  • The Utilities index in Fort Collins is 81.

Living Expense Fort Collins Colorado National Average
Overall 113 104 100
Services 105 102 100
Groceries 90 99 100
Health 97 100 100
Housing 142 116 100
Transportation 108 104 100
Utilities 81 90 100
For more reading on cost of living around Colorado, check out:
Fort Collins Cost of Living Vs. CO

Fort Collins, CO Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Colorado, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Fort Collins is $431,300.

  • The Median Rent in Fort Collins is $1,443.

  • The Median Income in Fort Collins is $72,932.

  • The Home Value To Income in Fort Collins is 5.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Collins is 0.24x.

Statistic Fort Collins Colorado United States
Median Home Value $431,300 $397,500 $244,900
Median Rent $1,443 $1,437 $1,163
Median Income $72,932 $80,184 $69,021
Home Value To Income 5.9x 5.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.22x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Fort Collins, CO
$431,300
Median Home Value
$1,443
Median Rent
$72,932
Median Income

Fort Collins, CO Costs By Category

Detailed Fort Collins Services Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Fort Collins Colorado
Shampoo $0.88 $1.06
Movie $13.19 $10.68
Bowling $20.67 $14.67
Haircut $24.05 $18.62
Beauty Salon $35.0 $39.05

Detailed Fort Collins Groceries Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Fort Collins Colorado
Ground Beef $4.62 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.15 $1.39
Milk $1.78 $2.05
Potatoes $3.04 $3.29
Pizza $11.32 $10.62
Beer $8.96 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.11 $2.34

Detailed Fort Collins Health Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Fort Collins Colorado
Optometrist $99.83 $108.57
Doctor $117.67 $116.17
Dentist $92.83 $99.13

Detailed Fort Collins Transportation Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Fort Collins Colorado
Gasoline $2.24 $2.22
Tire Balancing $59.83 $50.07

Detailed Fort Collins Utilities Costs Vs. Colorado

Item Fort Collins Colorado
All Electricity $103.99 $167.67
Phone $187.21 $175.64

Fort Collins SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
4
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Collins

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Collins. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Greeley, CO has a cost of living index of 98, 0.9x Fort Collins.

  • Loveland, CO has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Fort Collins.

  • Windsor, CO has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Fort Collins.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Fort Collins
Greeley, CO 107,014 98 0.9x
Loveland, CO 75,938 106 0.9x
Windsor, CO 31,972 115 1.0x
Wellington, CO 10,769 104 0.9x
Berthoud, CO 10,188 106 0.9x
Johnstown, NY 8,247 95 0.8x
Milliken, CO 8,122 102 0.9x
Severance, CO 7,691 110 1.0x

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