CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Raleigh, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Raleigh
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Raleigh is slightly cheaper than Fort Collins — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $77,700 in Raleigh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.2%
Fort Collins
120.6
Raleigh
103.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Collins
96.1
Raleigh
96.6
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Fort Collins
104.8
Raleigh
103.1
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Fort Collins
94.8
Raleigh
93.3
Utilities+8.3%
Fort Collins
82.2
Raleigh
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Raleigh

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9713. 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×

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Fort Collins has 14.2% lower housing costs compared to Raleigh.

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

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

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)

Raleigh, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.