Median rent is 12% lower in Fort Collins ($1,661/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Collins, where the median home runs $548,400 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Fort Collins ($83,598 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Fort Collins, CO
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Fort Collins, CO?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Fort Collins
Colorado
Los Angeles
California
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Fort Collins at $1,661/mo compared to $1,879/mo in Los Angeles (12% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $548,400 in Fort Collins — 38% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Colorado's top income tax rate is 4.40% versus 13.30% in California, so Fort Collins is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 2.90% in Colorado and 7.25% in California; Fort Collins has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Fort Collins
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 2.90%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Fort Collins has cleaner air on average: 26.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Fort Collins if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,661/mo median).
Pick Fort Collins if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 26.0).
Pick Fort Collins if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.40%).
Is Fort Collins cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fort Collins vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $1,661/mo in Fort Collins, CO and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Fort Collins, CO has the lower rent by about 12%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Collins or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $83,598 in Fort Collins, CO and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Fort Collins, CO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Fort Collins, CO has better air quality on average: 26.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Collins or Los Angeles?
Colorado's top income tax rate is 4.40% and California's is 13.30%. Fort Collins, CO has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Fort Collins income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology