Overall
101.1
+1.1 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Cost-of-living indicators for Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 101.1
- Overall RPP
- #65
- of 387 metros
- 120.6
- Rents RPP
- $99K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Fort Collins is more expensive than 83% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 101.1, 1.1% above the national average, led by rents at 120.6.
- 101.1
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #65
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 17%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 120.6
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $98,885 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $101,128.
What the Numbers Mean for Fort Collins
Fort Collins ranks #65 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 101.1, Fort Collins-Loveland, CO is 1.1% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Fort Collins's most and least expensive categories — rents at 120.6 versus services at 82.2 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $98,885 inside Fort Collins, while a household needs roughly $101,128 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 120.6 — 20.6% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Fort Collins's overall index has risen by 3.9 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.1 and services at 82.2, meaning everyday spending in Fort Collins is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Fort Collins vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
101 Top 17% higher than 83% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Fort Collins cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
120.6 RPP
- Services
Services
82.2 RPP
- Overall
Overall
101.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.1 RPP
What this shows Fort Collins's gap from the national average is led by rents at 120.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Fort Collins's cost comes from
Metros near Fort Collins's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.3, rents 119.8). Fort Collins is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Fort Collins's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.1
-3.9 below avg
Services
82.2
-17.8 below avg
Rents
120.6
+20.6 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$101,128
in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$50,564
$75,000 nationally
$75,846
$125,000 nationally
$126,410
$150,000 nationally
$151,692
$200,000 nationally
$202,256
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 3.9 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 |
| 2009 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 101.3 |
| 2011 | 103.3 |
| 2012 | 104.7 |
| 2013 | 103.2 |
| 2014 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 101.7 |
| 2016 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 104.4 |
| 2018 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 102.2 |
| 2020 | 98.5 |
| 2021 | 97.6 |
| 2022 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 101.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Fort Collins-Loveland, CO's index of 101.1.
Other CO Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO? ▼
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 101.1, meaning it is 1.1% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.1, services at 82.2, and rents at 120.6. It ranks #65 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $101,128 in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO. Conversely, $100K earned in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO has the purchasing power of $98,885 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO? ▼
Rents in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO are indexed at 120.6, which is 20.6% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Fort Collins-Loveland, CO getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Fort Collins-Loveland, CO's overall cost index changed by +3.9 points (from 97.2 to 101.1). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO? ▼
The most expensive category in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO is rents at 120.6, which is 20.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 82.2, 17.8% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Fort Collins-Loveland, CO? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Kenosha, Chico, Reno. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Fort Collins-Loveland, CO's 101.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
