CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Fort Collins is slightly cheaper than Portland — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.8%
Fort Collins
120.6
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries+1.1%
Fort Collins
96.1
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Fort Collins
104.8
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Fort Collins
94.8
Portland
98
Utilities+63.7%
Fort Collins
82.2
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$80,600
$600 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 1.0079. 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×

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

Fort Collins has 12.8% lower housing costs compared to Portland.

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

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

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)

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.