Fairmount, CO vs Montrose, CO

The cost of living difference between Fairmount, CO and Montrose, CO is dramatic. Montrose is 78.5% cheaper than Fairmount, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fairmount has a cost index of 176 while Montrose sits at 99, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairmount is $2,505/month compared to $1,117/month in Montrose — a 124% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Montrose is more affordable at $359,000 median vs $772,600.

Median household income in Fairmount is $163,785 compared to $63,177 in Montrose (+159.2%). While Fairmount is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairmount spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.2% in Montrose.