CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent

Fort Collins is slightly cheaper than Mount Vernon — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $81,000 in Mount Vernon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.3%
Fort Collins
120.6
Mount Vernon
108.2
🛒 Groceries+9.3%
Fort Collins
96.1
Mount Vernon
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Collins
104.8
Mount Vernon
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Collins
94.8
Mount Vernon
94.5
Utilities+16.8%
Fort Collins
82.2
Mount Vernon
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon, WA
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Mount Vernon

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 1.0129. 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×

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Fort Collins has 10.3% lower housing costs compared to Mount Vernon.

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

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

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)

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.