Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Collins, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Collins, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,502 in Fort Collins, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,709 in Fort Collins, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,916 in Fort Collins, CO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 44% more expensive than Fort Collins, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Fort Collins, CO 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.24 $18.24

35.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$70.9 $70.9

66.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.59 $11.59

18.81%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.81 $4.81

18.71%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.05 $2.05

48.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.40 $2.40

4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.81 $6.81

14.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.39 $6.39

23.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.01 $1.01

33.66%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.15 $3.15

60.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.26 $3.26

65.34%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.26 $4.26

60.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.83 $10.83

131.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.79 $8.79

80.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.63 $16.63

23.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.90 $3.90

57.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.57 $1.57

79.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.37 $4.37

26.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.04 $5.04

33.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.27 $2.27

38.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.88 $1.88

103.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.42 $2.42

11.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.95 $1.95

35.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.39 $9.39

24.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$19.29 $19.29

-18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.27 $2.27

29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.66 $2.66

59.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.01 $2.01

40.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.57 $2.57

1.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.43 $1.43

20.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$25.38 $25.38

19.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.87 $0.87

36.78%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$27.3K $27.3K

19.97%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.91%

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

$263 $263

$169 $169

55.08%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.79 $43.79

39.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$76.7 $76.7

-1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$59.6 $59.6

33.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$15.13 $15.13

163.65%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$11.88 $11.88

36.95%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,554 $1,554

46.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$12.6K $12.6K

133.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$68.4 $68.4

0.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$91.5 $91.5

-43.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$80.1 $80.1

44.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$107 $107

34.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,810 $1,810

29.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,241 $1,241

50.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,782 $2,782

66.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,262 $2,262

53.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,982 $2,982

160.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,947 $2,947

77.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,422 $4,422

49.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.59

-2.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,810 in Fort Collins, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 50% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $71.0 in Fort Collins, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $368 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

Seattle, WA vs Fort Collins, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Collins, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Collins, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 50% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,810 in Fort Collins, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,502 in Fort Collins, CO – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 $2,502 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fort Collins, CO hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Fort Collins, CO 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 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.