CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Fresno, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
Fresno
102.2
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Fort Collins is slightly cheaper than Fresno — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $80,900 in Fresno. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.6%
Fort Collins
120.6
Fresno
95.7
🛒 Groceries+9.5%
Fort Collins
96.1
Fresno
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Collins
104.8
Fresno
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Collins
94.8
Fresno
95.3
Utilities+95.9%
Fort Collins
82.2
Fresno
161

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fresno, CA
$80,900
$900 more needed in Fresno

Formula: salary × (102.2 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 1.0109. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

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

Fresno, CA

Median Home Price
$401,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
95.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Fort Collins has 20.6% lower housing costs compared to Fresno.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

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

Fresno, CA

Median Household Income
$71,100
Per Capita Income
$40,500
Unemployment Rate
7.4%
Population
542,107
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

74% of income left after rent (median)

Fresno, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.