CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Fort Collins is slightly cheaper than St. Paul — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $82,900 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−7.3%
Fort Collins
120.6
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+7.3%
Fort Collins
96.1
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Fort Collins
104.8
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Fort Collins
94.8
St. Paul
99.2
⚡ Utilities+13.7%
Fort Collins
82.2
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$82,900
$2,900 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 1.0366. 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×

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Fort Collins has 7.3% lower housing costs compared to St. Paul.

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

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

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)

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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

St. Paul vs other cities

St. Paul, MN
vs
Duluth, MN
Index: 104.8Index: 88.8
St. Paul, MN
vs
Minneapolis, MN
Index: 104.8Index: 104.8
St. Paul, MN
vs
Rochester, MN
Index: 104.8Index: 90.8
St. Paul, MN
vs
Newark, NJ
Index: 104.8Index: 112.6
St. Paul, MN
vs
Santa Ana, CA
Index: 104.8Index: 113.6

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.