CostIndexUSA

Birmingham, AL vs Fort Collins, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Birmingham is moderately cheaper than Fort Collins — 10.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Birmingham, you would need $88,300 in Fort Collins. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+67.7%
Birmingham
71.9
Fort Collins
120.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Birmingham
96.4
Fort Collins
96.1
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Birmingham
101.5
Fort Collins
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.2%
Birmingham
91.9
Fort Collins
94.8
Utilities1.9%
Birmingham
83.8
Fort Collins
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Birmingham to see what you'd need to earn in Fort Collins to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Collins, CO
$88,300
$8,300 more needed in Fort Collins

Formula: salary × (101.1 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.1037. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Fort Collins has 67.7% higher housing costs compared to Birmingham.

Income & Job Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.