Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $2,758 in Fort Collins, CO, rent and utilities included – about $21,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fort Collins, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,758
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fort Collins, CO and in Lima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fort Collins, CO and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,758 in Fort Collins, CO versus $996 in Lima.

  • Fort Collins, CO $2,758
  • Lima $996

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,111 in Fort Collins, CO versus $1,594 in Lima.

  • Fort Collins, CO $4,111
  • Lima $1,594

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,464 in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,191 in Lima.

  • Fort Collins, CO $5,464
  • Lima $2,191

Living in Fort Collins, CO is roughly 177% more expensive than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fort Collins, CO is 106% above, Lima is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.70 $22.70
$4.42 PEN 15.16
413.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$35.04 PEN 120
130.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.26 $11.26
$6.84 PEN 23.44
64.62%
Cappuccino
$6.17 $6.17
$3.27 PEN 11.22
88.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.10 PEN 3.78
120.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$0.65 PEN 2.22
218.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.94 $6.94
$2.58 PEN 8.85
168.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99 $6.99
$4.47 PEN 15.34
56.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.59 PEN 5.46
-38.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.58 PEN 8.86
15.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.36 PEN 4.65
101.47%
Eggs
$4.23 $4.23
$2.95 PEN 10.11
43.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.88 $10.88
$9.10 PEN 31.19
19.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.55 $9.55
$5.81 PEN 19.91
64.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.30 $19.30
$9.83 PEN 33.68
96.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.01 PEN 6.89
145.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.08 PEN 3.69
44.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$1.37 PEN 4.70
240.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$1.48 PEN 5.06
258.78%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$0.96 PEN 3.30
257.29%
Onion (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$0.85 PEN 2.92
436.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 $2.33
$0.88 PEN 3.02
164.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.87 PEN 2.97
102.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.95 $9.95
$5.90 PEN 20.24
68.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.52 $16.52
$8.81 PEN 30.21
87.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.92 PEN 6.57
30.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.20 PEN 10.98
-15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.68 PEN 2.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.74 PEN 91.7
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.81 PEN 13.06
-36.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.04 PEN 7.00
-6.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.40 $25.40
$7.14 PEN 24.49
255.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.65 PEN 5.65
-38.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
62.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
-2.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$73.0 PEN 250
191.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.2 $57.2
$16.26 PEN 55.7
251.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$27.60 PEN 94.6
149.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.6 $55.6
$33.07 PEN 113
68.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.66 $29.66
$19.49 PEN 66.8
52.18%
Cinema Ticket
$11.98 $11.98
$7.39 PEN 25.33
62.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$182 PEN 624
611.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K $12.7K
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
-4.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 $59.9
$52.6 PEN 180
13.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 $69.9
$34.23 PEN 117
104.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 $79.5
$83.8 PEN 287
-5.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$79.0 PEN 271
48.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,851 $1,851
$723 PEN 2,479
155.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 $1,427
$340 PEN 1,166
319.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,733 $2,733
$1,184 PEN 4,060
130.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,484 $2,484
$635 PEN 2,176
291.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,012 $3,012
$2,449 PEN 8,394
23.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,034 $3,034
$1,372 PEN 4,702
121.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Collins, CO
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,352 $4,352
$653 PEN 2,237
566.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
8.94
-24.27%

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

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fort Collins, CO
$1.4K
Lima
$340 76.2% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Fort Collins, CO
$386
Lima
$226 41.4% $160
Eating Out
Fort Collins, CO
$356
Lima
$124 65.2% $232
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Collins, CO
$339
Lima
$117 65.5% $222
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Collins, CO
$147
Lima
$112 23.6% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Collins, CO
$80
Lima
$48 39.8% $32
Getting Around
Fort Collins, CO
$12 *
Lima
$43 263% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,851 in Fort Collins, CO and $723 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Collins, CO pays 567% 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: $81.0 in Fort Collins, CO vs $35.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $226 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Collins, CO
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
05:56 5:56 AM
06:56 6:56 AM
1 h ahead of Fort Collins, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
148,612
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.292 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fort Collins, CO Lima 6,530 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Collins, CO
  • Lima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Collins, CO or Lima?
Lima wins on cost – living expenses run 177% lower than in Fort Collins, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lima the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Fort Collins, CO or in Lima?
Average pay runs 567% higher in Fort Collins, CO, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fort Collins, CO compared to Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,851 in Fort Collins, CO versus $723 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fort Collins, CO or in Lima?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Fort Collins, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Collins, CO compared to Lima?
All in, you'll spend $2,758 per month in Fort Collins, CO versus $996 in Lima – a 177% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Fort Collins, CO or in Lima?
At $996 in Lima versus $2,758 in Fort Collins, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Fort Collins, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Collins, CO or Lima?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lima delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $996 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lima hard to pass up.
How safe is Fort Collins, CO compared to Lima?
Safety-wise, Fort Collins, CO and Lima are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% less than in Fort Collins, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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