CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Fort Collins is moderately cheaper than San Francisco — 14.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $91,500 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+61.4%
Fort Collins
120.6
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+12.9%
Fort Collins
96.1
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation+6.4%
Fort Collins
104.8
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+6.4%
Fort Collins
94.8
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+110.0%
Fort Collins
82.2
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$91,500
$11,500 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 1.1434. 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×

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

San Francisco has 61.4% higher housing costs compared to Fort Collins.

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

San Francisco, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
873,965
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceTourismHealthcareMedia

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)

San Francisco, CA
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.