CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Grand Rapids, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Grand Rapids
95.5
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Grand Rapids is moderately cheaper than Fort Collins — 5.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $75,600 in Grand Rapids. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.2%
Fort Collins
120.6
Grand Rapids
86.6
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Fort Collins
96.1
Grand Rapids
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Collins
104.8
Grand Rapids
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Collins
94.8
Grand Rapids
94.6
Utilities+14.1%
Fort Collins
82.2
Grand Rapids
93.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Grand Rapids, MI
$75,600
$4,400 less needed in Grand Rapids

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9446. 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×

Grand Rapids, MI

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.1×

Fort Collins has 28.2% lower housing costs compared to Grand Rapids.

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

Grand Rapids, MI

Median Household Income
$78,000
Per Capita Income
$44,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
198,917
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceEducationTechnology

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)

Grand Rapids, MI
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.