Denver vs Fort Collins
Denver, CO · Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins is 8% cheaper than Denver overall.
Home Price
Denver: $565,000
Fort: $500,000
Monthly Rent
Denver: $1,395/mo
Fort: $1,500/mo
COL Index
Denver: 121
Fort: 111
Median Income
Denver: $85,200
Fort: $78,600
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Denver has the same purchasing power as $91,736 in Fort Collins — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Fort Collins cost 12% more (-$65,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Denver saves you $105/month — $1,260 per year. Median rent: $1,395/mo in Denver vs $1,500/mo in Fort Collins.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Denver owners pay roughly $3,108/year in property taxes vs $2,750/year in Fort Collins. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $85,200 in Denver and $78,600 in Fort Collins. Fort Collins residents earn 8% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Denver vs 22 minutes in Fort Collins. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Denver to Fort Collins, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Denver | Equivalent in Fort Collins | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $45,868 | -$4,132 |
| $75,000 | $68,802 | -$6,198 |
| $100,000 | $91,736 | -$8,264 |
| $150,000 | $137,603 | -$12,397 |
| $200,000 | $183,471 | -$16,529 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Property Tax Calculator
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Denver vs Fort Collins: Common Questions
Is Denver or Fort Collins cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Fort Collins is cheaper overall. Denver has a COL index of 121 while Fort Collins scores 111 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Denver and Fort Collins?
The median home price in Denver is $565,000 vs $500,000 in Fort Collins — a difference of $65,000 (12%).
What salary do I need in Fort Collins to match my Denver income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Denver is equivalent to $91,736 in Fort Collins in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Fort Collins has a lower property tax rate (0.55% vs 0.55%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,750/year vs $3,108/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.