Fort Collins, CO vs Lakewood, CO

Fort Collins, CO and Lakewood, CO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Fort Collins scores 129 while Lakewood scores 135 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Collins is $1,661/month compared to $1,746/month in Lakewood — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Collins has cheaper rent, Lakewood actually has lower median home values ($548,200 vs $548,400).

Median household income in Fort Collins is $83,598 compared to $85,789 in Lakewood (-2.6%). The higher salaries in Lakewood partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Collins spend roughly 23.8% of their income on rent, less than the 24.4% in Lakewood.