City Comparison

Fort Collins vs Franklin

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Collins

Colorado
116
Above Average
$531,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$74,800
Median Income

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

The Verdict

16.5%

Living in Fort Collins costs 16.5% less than Franklin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $89,871 in Franklin.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
142
Fort Collins
230
Franklin
Groceries
100
Fort Collins
100
Franklin
Utilities
87
Fort Collins
97
Franklin
Transportation
108
Fort Collins
90
Franklin
Healthcare
97
Fort Collins
91
Franklin

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has the same purchasing power as $89,871 in Franklin.

Conversely, $75,000 in Franklin equals $62,590 in Fort Collins.

Living in Fort Collins vs Franklin

Housing Costs

Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is lower Franklin's 230, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $750,000. The $219,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,232 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $1,850/mo in Franklin, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 100 in Franklin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $475/month in Franklin. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 87 in Fort Collins and 97 in Franklin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $388 in Franklin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins and 91 in Franklin. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $74,800 in Fort Collins and $118,200 in Franklin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $85,036 respectively. Franklin residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,745/month to housing in Fort Collins vs $2,758/month in Franklin. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo fits within this budget. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 88 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Collins is 16.5% more affordable overall with an index of 116 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,871 in Franklin, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Collins's housing index is 142 with median homes at $531,000, while Franklin's is 230 with median homes at $750,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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