City Comparison
Colorado Springs vs Fort Collins
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Colorado Springs scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Colorado Springs
Fort Collins
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Colorado Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
29% lower than in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,632 | +7% |
| Groceries | $420 | $402 | +4% |
| Utilities | $170 | $180 | -6% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $1,460 | -84% |
| Monthly Total | $2,710 | $3,794 | -29% |
| Cost Index | 101 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Colorado Springs offers 19% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Colorado Springs delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Colorado Springs is estimated at
$58,000 vs $65,280 in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $59,672 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $65,280 |
| Purchasing Power | 70,297 idx | 59,672 idx |
| Household Income | $84,818 | $85,070 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Fort Collins runs warmer on average — a 51.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Fort Collins comes out ahead with 291 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fort Collins sees 19.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 51.30°F |
| Summer High | °F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 18.20°F |
| Rainfall | in | 17.10 in |
| Snowfall | in | 19.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 291 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Fort Collins has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Colorado Springs leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 44.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Colorado Springs is the larger city
— approximately 2.9x the population of Fort Collins.
From a growth perspective, Colorado Springs is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fort Collins has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 494,743 | 171,693 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.57% | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 30.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 3.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Colorado Springs
Advantages
Median home value remains more accessible than Denver metro counterparts per Zillow 2026 data
Unemployment rate sits at a healthy 4.1% matching competitive national benchmarks per BLS
Unmatched proximity to iconic outdoor recreation including Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods
Robust local economy driven by aerospace, defense technology, and high-tech sectors
Average monthly earnings outpace national averages per recent BLS occupational wage reports
Drawbacks
High elevation and dry climate require adjustment periods for new residents
Significant car dependency across sprawling suburban neighborhoods limits transit utility
Property crime rates in certain central urban pockets remain above national medians
Rapid historical growth has strained local infrastructure and traffic capacity on I-25
Home prices and rents have escalated significantly compared to pre-2020 affordability levels
Fort Collins
Advantages
Fort Collins has a lower violent crime rate than the national average.
The city's total crime rate decreased by 18.8% from 2008 to 2022.
Fort Collins has a high percentage of residents with a Bachelor's degree or higher (60.7%).
The average commute time is relatively low at 19.5 minutes.
Fort Collins is very bikeable and has several highly walkable neighborhoods.
Drawbacks
The median sales price for single-family homes increased by 1.7% in December 2024.
The cost of purchasing a home in Fort Collins has nearly doubled in the past 8 years.
Fair Market Rent prices in Fort Collins are very high compared to the national average.
The average cost of assisted living in Fort Collins is higher than both the state and national averages.
The Fort Collins, CO area's rent-to-income ratio is higher than the average for mid-sized metros, indicating less affordability.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Colorado Springs
#307Colorado, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
101
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.57%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
80
Business
72
Fort Collins
#421Colorado, USA
57.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,632
Avg Salary
$59,672
Cost Index
100
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
37.0/100
Walkability
37.0/100
Sunny Days
291/yr
Avg Temp
51.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.11%
Unemployment
3.70%
Livability
74
Business
68
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