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 135, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Colorado, Fort Collins has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Colorado's index of 114.
The standard of living in Fort Collins ranks as #63 most affordable out of the 111 places we measured in Colorado. By definition, that implies Fort Collins ranks as the #48 most expensive place in the Centennial State.
For more reading on life in Fort Collins, check out:
Fort Collins Cost Of Living Vs. Colorado
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Collins. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Collins is 104.
The Groceries index in Fort Collins is 104.
The Health index in Fort Collins is 195.
The Housing index in Fort Collins is 105.
The Transportation index in Fort Collins is 108.
The Utilities index in Fort Collins is 109.
| Living Expense | Fort Collins | Colorado | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 135 | 114 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 195 | 135 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 107 | 100 |
Fort Collins Cost Of Living Compared To Colorado Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Colorado, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fort Collins Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fort Collins is $563,815.
The Median Rent in Fort Collins is $1,690.
The Median Income in Fort Collins is $85,070.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Collins is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Collins is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Fort Collins | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $563,815 | $541,842 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,690 | $1,761 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,070 | $95,470 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Fort Collins, CO Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Collins Services costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Fort Collins | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.98 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.69 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $33.98 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Collins Groceries costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Fort Collins | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.98 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.44 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.23 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.63 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Collins Health costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Fort Collins | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $191.47 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $140.63 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.16 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Collins Transportation costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Fort Collins | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.3 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Collins Utilities costs vs. Colorado
| Item | Fort Collins | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $154.32 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.74 | $192.25 |
Fort Collins SnackAbility
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 116, 0.9x Fort Collins.
Loveland, CO has a cost of living index of 128, 0.9x Fort Collins.
Windsor, CO has a cost of living index of 137, 1.0x Fort Collins.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | 110,806 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Loveland, CO | 78,410 | 128 | 0.9x |
| Windsor, CO | 37,914 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Berthoud, CO | 12,411 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Wellington, CO | 11,798 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Severance, CO | 10,130 | 132 | 1.0x |
| Timnath, CO | 8,941 | 162 | 1.2x |
| Milliken, CO | 8,871 | 120 | 0.9x |
| Johnstown, NY | 8,111 | 97 | 0.7x |
