CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Fort Collins — 17.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $66,200 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−64.5%
Fort Collins
120.6
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Fort Collins
96.1
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.1%
Fort Collins
104.8
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.1%
Fort Collins
94.8
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−12.2%
Fort Collins
82.2
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$66,200
$13,800 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.8269. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Fort Collins has 64.5% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Collins vs other cities

Fort Collins, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.8
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.2
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 100.7
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Salinas, CA
Index: 101.1Index: 109
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Clarksville, TN
Index: 101.1Index: 90.9

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.