Fort Collins, CO at a glance
Median household income
$85,070$7,089 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Fort Collins, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Fort Collins, CO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,509 | $18,108 | $60,360 | 21.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,537 | $18,444 | $61,480 | 21.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,732 | $20,784 | $69,280 | 24.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,385 | $28,620 | $95,400 | 33.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,540 | $30,480 | $101,600 | 35.8% |
What a typical income covers in Fort Collins, CO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $85,070 a year ($7,089 a month before tax).
What $85,070 leaves after Colorado taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Colorado tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Colorado
Living in Fort Collins, CO: common questions
What is the median household income in Fort Collins, CO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Fort Collins, CO is $85,070 per year (approximately $7,089 per month).
What is the average rent in Fort Collins, CO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,509 for a studio, $1,537 for one bedroom, $1,732 for two, $2,385 for three and $2,540 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Fort Collins, CO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.1% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 101.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?
To keep a $1,732 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $69,280 a year, or $5,773 a month. That is 81% of what the typical household in Fort Collins, CO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Fort Collins, CO?
On the local median income of $85,070 ($7,089 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,545 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,127 for everything else and $1,418 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,732 takes 49% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Fort Collins, CO?
Homes in Colorado paid 17.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $154. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.