CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Fort Collins, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Brownsville is significantly cheaper than Fort Collins — 17.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $94,000 in Fort Collins. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+109.0%
Brownsville
57.7
Fort Collins
120.6
🛒 Groceries+2.5%
Brownsville
93.8
Fort Collins
96.1
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Brownsville
101.1
Fort Collins
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Brownsville
91.4
Fort Collins
94.8
Utilities+1.2%
Brownsville
81.2
Fort Collins
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Collins, CO
$94,000
$14,000 more needed in Fort Collins

Formula: salary × (101.1 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1756. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Fort Collins has 109.0% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.