CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Lexington, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Lexington is moderately cheaper than Fort Collins — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $73,500 in Lexington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.1%
Fort Collins
120.6
Lexington
77.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Collins
96.1
Lexington
96.2
🚗 Transportation3.0%
Fort Collins
104.8
Lexington
101.7
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Fort Collins
94.8
Lexington
92
Utilities9.2%
Fort Collins
82.2
Lexington
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lexington, KY
$73,500
$6,500 less needed in Lexington

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9189. 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×

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Fort Collins has 36.1% lower housing costs compared to Lexington.

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

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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)

Lexington, KY
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.