Arvada, CO vs Fort Collins, CO

Fort Collins is moderately more affordable than Arvada, with a 8.9% lower cost of living index. Arvada scores 141 compared to 129 for Fort Collins, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Arvada can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arvada is $1,802/month compared to $1,661/month in Fort Collins — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Collins is more affordable at $548,400 median vs $600,800.

Median household income in Arvada is $113,396 compared to $83,598 in Fort Collins (+35.6%). While Arvada is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arvada spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 23.8% in Fort Collins.