CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Milwaukee, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Milwaukee
96.9
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Milwaukee is slightly cheaper than Fort Collins — 4.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $76,700 in Milwaukee. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.5%
Fort Collins
120.6
Milwaukee
97.1
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Fort Collins
96.1
Milwaukee
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Collins
104.8
Milwaukee
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Collins
94.8
Milwaukee
94.4
Utilities+11.4%
Fort Collins
82.2
Milwaukee
91.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Milwaukee, WI
$76,700
$3,300 less needed in Milwaukee

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9585. 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×

Milwaukee, WI

Median Home Price
$363,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.9×

Fort Collins has 19.5% lower housing costs compared to Milwaukee.

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

Milwaukee, WI

Median Household Income
$77,000
Per Capita Income
$43,900
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
577,222
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceEducationRetail

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)

Milwaukee, WI
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.