Denver, CO vs Fort Collins, CO

Fort Collins is moderately more affordable than Denver, with a 7.3% lower cost of living index. Denver scores 139 compared to 129 for Fort Collins, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Denver can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Denver is $1,770/month compared to $1,661/month in Fort Collins — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Collins is more affordable at $548,400 median vs $586,700.

Median household income in Denver is $91,681 compared to $83,598 in Fort Collins (+9.7%). While Denver is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Denver spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, less than the 23.8% in Fort Collins.