Fort Collins, CO vs Colorado Springs, CO
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Fort Collins, CO is approximately 74% less expensive than Colorado Springs, CO based on cost of living including rent. This makes Fort Collins, CO a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Fort Collins, CO has a FIRE Score of 69/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 67.5, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Fort Collins, CO is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Fort Collins, CO
United States
Colorado Springs, CO
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins is a rare Colorado college town that still feels affordable on a local salary of $4,378/mo, with a cost of living index of 66/100 and a safety index of 85/100 that few US cities of 170 thousand can match. Old Town is the obvious landing spot for newcomers, and the large, active expat community plus a digital nomad score of 81/100 makes settling in painless. The catch is housing: $1,843/mo for a one-bedroom downtown is steep against that average wage, so budget-conscious renters should look outside the center at $1,443/mo. Come for the excellent healthcare and 4 km hop to FNL, stay for the 90 Mbps internet and a climate that swings from 36°C summers to -31°C winters.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
Colorado Springs, CO costs roughly 2.2x less than Fort Collins, CO. Fort Collins, CO leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Fort Collins, CO is approximately 74% less expensive than Colorado Springs, CO based on cost of living including rent. This makes Fort Collins, CO a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Fort Collins, CO has a FIRE Score of 69/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 67.5, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Fort Collins, CO is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Fort Collins, CO
United StatesAbout Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins is a rare Colorado college town that still feels affordable on a local salary of $4,378/mo, with a cost of living index of 66/100 and a safety index of 85/100 that few US cities of 170 thousand can match. Old Town is the obvious landing spot for newcomers, and the large, active expat community plus a digital nomad score of 81/100 makes settling in painless. The catch is housing: $1,843/mo for a one-bedroom downtown is steep against that average wage, so budget-conscious renters should look outside the center at $1,443/mo. Come for the excellent healthcare and 4 km hop to FNL, stay for the 90 Mbps internet and a climate that swings from 36°C summers to -31°C winters.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$555/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Colorado Springs, CO
United StatesAbout Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs is a pricey place to land, with a 1-bedroom in the city center running $3,202/mo against an average monthly net salary of $4,500/mo, so most newcomers will be looking outside the center at $2,100/mo. The upside is real: excellent healthcare, a safety index of 70/100, and 150 Mbps internet make it a solid base for remote workers and retirees alike. Just budget carefully, because a single person spends about $1,450/mo before rent, and that mobile phone plan at $294/mo is a genuine outlier. Come for the arid climate and the mountains at 1839 m, not for cheap living.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$-1,902/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1842.5 | $3202 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1442.5 | $2100 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2756 | $5230 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2165 | $3500 |
| Safety Index | 67.5 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 90Mbps | 150Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Fort Collins, CO | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,370/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $927/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $1,443/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $209/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $225/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $153/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $340/mo | N/A |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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