Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,467 in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,757 in Fort Collins, CO versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,048 in Fort Collins, CO versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Fort Collins, CO costs roughly 9% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Collins, CO 85% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 $18.33

$19.70 $19.70

-6.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.2 $72.2

$76.0 $76.0

-4.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.33 $11.33

$9.86 $9.86

14.91%

Cappuccino

$4.69 $4.69

$5.48 $5.48

-14.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.65 $2.65

-24.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.09 $2.09

18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.09 $6.09

13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 $6.54

$8.15 $8.15

-19.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.10 $1.10

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.39 $3.39

-7.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.38 $3.38

-1.78%

Eggs

$4.24 $4.24

$4.39 $4.39

-3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 $10.94

$12.10 $12.10

-9.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 $8.66

$10.84 $10.84

-20.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.79 $16.79

$14.68 $14.68

14.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.96 $4.96

-19.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.51 $1.51

3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.40 $4.40

-0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.10 $4.10

23.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.81 $2.81

-15.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.87 $2.87

-31.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.95 $1.95

27.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.18 $2.18

-5.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$8.99 $8.99

5.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.11 $15.11

26.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.33 $2.33

-5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.43 $3.43

-21.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.54 $1.54

31.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.41 $4.41

-41.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.83 $1.83

-22.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.62 $24.62

$34.65 $34.65

-28.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.78 $0.78

5.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.0K $28.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

7.76%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$168 $168

$175 $175

-3.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$42.77 $42.77

$59.7 $59.7

-28.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 $77.0

$65.5 $65.5

17.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 $61.1

$61.3 $61.3

-0.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.98 $14.98

$9.89 $9.89

51.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.77 $11.77

$14.76 $14.76

-20.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$1,372 $1,372

12.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

-43.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 $67.1

$56.5 $56.5

18.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$92.2 $92.2

$45.29 $45.29

103.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 $80.6

$85.0 $85.0

-5.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$118 $118

-8.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,807 $1,807

$2,201 $2,201

-17.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,231 $1,231

$1,403 $1,403

-12.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,816 $2,816

$3,815 $3,815

-26.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,304 $2,304

$2,680 $2,680

-14.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,923 $2,923

$7,133 $7,133

-59.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,990 $2,990

$3,078 $3,078

-2.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

$5,110 $5,110

-15.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.45

2.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: July 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,807 in Fort Collins, CO and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $72.0 in Fort Collins, CO vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $379 per month, with Fort Collins, CO cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fort Collins, CO vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Collins, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Collins, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,807 in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,547 in Fort Collins, CO versus $1,372 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Collins, CO – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Fort Collins, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Fort Collins, CO delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,467 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fort Collins, CO hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Fort Collins, CO and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Fort Collins, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.