Fort Collins, CO vs Markham
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Markham is approximately 18% less expensive than Fort Collins, CO based on cost of living including rent. This makes Markham a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Markham has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 72.57, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Markham is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Best in rowUnited States
Fort Collins, CO
Canada
Markham
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Markham
Markham is a suburb that quietly outperforms its reputation, with a safety index of 88/100 and an overall expat score of 81/100 that make it a serious contender for families and remote workers alike. The trade-off is cost: $1,568/mo for a one-bedroom downtown or $1,397/mo outside the centre, against an average net salary of $3,115/mo, means you will feel the squeeze unless you are earning well above the local median. The large expat community in Unionville, Cornell, and Milliken plus a 6 km hop to YYZ give it real practical pull, but do not expect Toronto's energy or a bargain.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
Fort Collins, CO costs roughly 13% less than Markham. Markham has significantly faster average internet speeds (110 Mbps vs 90 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Markham is approximately 18% less expensive than Fort Collins, CO based on cost of living including rent. This makes Markham a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Markham has a FIRE Score of 64/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 72.57, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Markham 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
About Markham
Markham is a suburb that quietly outperforms its reputation, with a safety index of 88/100 and an overall expat score of 81/100 that make it a serious contender for families and remote workers alike. The trade-off is cost: $1,568/mo for a one-bedroom downtown or $1,397/mo outside the centre, against an average net salary of $3,115/mo, means you will feel the squeeze unless you are earning well above the local median. The large expat community in Unionville, Cornell, and Milliken plus a 6 km hop to YYZ give it real practical pull, but do not expect Toronto's energy or a bargain.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
$799/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Markham |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1842.5 | $1567.58 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1442.5 | $1397.49 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2756 | $2700.3 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2165 | $2281.23 |
| Safety Index | 67.5 | 72.57 |
| Internet Speed | 90Mbps | 110Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Fort Collins, CO | Markham |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,370/mo | $2,200/mo |
| Excluding rent | $927/mo | $803/mo |
| Rent | $1,443/mo | $1,397/mo |
| Groceries | $209/mo | $233/mo |
| Dining out | $225/mo | $175/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $153/mo | $100/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $340/mo | $197/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $98.00/mo |
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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