CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Santa Ana, 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
Santa Ana
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Fort Collins is moderately cheaper than Santa Ana — 12.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $89,900 in Santa Ana. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+41.3%
Fort Collins
120.6
Santa Ana
170.4
🛒 Groceries+10.9%
Fort Collins
96.1
Santa Ana
106.6
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Fort Collins
104.8
Santa Ana
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.5%
Fort Collins
94.8
Santa Ana
99.1
Utilities+92.9%
Fort Collins
82.2
Santa Ana
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Ana, CA
$89,900
$9,900 more needed in Santa Ana

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 1.1236. 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×

Santa Ana, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Santa Ana has 41.3% 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

Santa Ana, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
310,227
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

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)

Santa Ana, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.