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Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

Cost of living in Fort Collins, Colorado

Larimer County, CO

Part of the Fort Collins Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,491/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 363,561 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,442 41%
Federal tax $576 16%
Healthcare $480 14%
Groceries $359 10%
Transport $250 7%
State tax $166 5%
Energy $158 5%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Fort Collins

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,434
per month
1 bedroom
$1,442
per month
2 bedroom
$1,695
per month
3 bedroom
$2,375
per month
4 bedroom
$2,526
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Fort Collins

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$91,364
per year
Individual earnings
$45,290
per year
Per capita
$49,323
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Fort Collins

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$532,200
Annual property tax
$2,662

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Fort Collins

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$106
per month · 15.2¢/kWh
Natural gas
$52
per month
Annual total
$1,896
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Fort Collins

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Fort Collins

State and local tax rates for Colorado.

State income tax
4.4%
Flat rate
State sales tax
2.9%
Combined sales tax
7.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Fort Collins

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.3 min
Drive alone
68.4%
Public transit
0.9%
Work from home
18.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Fort Collins

What it costs to live in Fort Collins each month.

Single person
$3,491
per month
  • Rent $1,442
  • Energy $158
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $359
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $576
  • State tax $166
Couple
$5,264
per month
  • Rent $1,695
  • Energy $190
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $595
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,165
  • State tax $335
Family
$8,100
per month
  • Rent $2,375
  • Energy $237
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $903
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,165
  • State tax $335

Frequently asked questions about Fort Collins

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Fort Collins?

In Fort Collins, Colorado, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,442 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,695 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,375 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Fort Collins?

In Fort Collins, Colorado, the average household income is $91,364 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $45,290 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Fort Collins?

The estimated cost of living in Fort Collins, Colorado is approximately $3,491 per month for a single person, $5,264 for a couple, $8,100 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Fort Collins?

The combined sales tax rate in Fort Collins, Colorado is 7.77%, which includes the Colorado state rate of 2.90% plus an average local rate of 4.87%.

Is Fort Collins an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Fort Collins, Colorado would need approximately $3,491 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $91,364 per year ($7,614 per month). Fort Collins is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Fort Collins?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Fort Collins, Colorado is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Fort Collins?

The average home value in Fort Collins, Colorado is $532,200, with average annual property taxes of $2,662, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Fort Collins compare to other areas?

You can compare Fort Collins, Colorado with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Fort Collins is in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area.

Other counties in Colorado

Browse the full list of counties in Colorado, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Colorado

Compare Fort Collins with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources