City Comparison

Fort Collins vs Green Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Collins

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

Green Bay

Wisconsin
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

The Verdict

34.9%

Green Bay is 34.9% less expensive than Fort Collins overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Collins would need approximately $55,603 in Green Bay to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
142
Fort Collins
72
Green Bay
Groceries
100
Fort Collins
98
Green Bay
Utilities
87
Fort Collins
84
Green Bay
Transportation
108
Fort Collins
102
Green Bay
Healthcare
97
Fort Collins
96
Green Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has the same purchasing power as $55,603 in Green Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Green Bay equals $101,163 in Fort Collins.

Living in Fort Collins vs Green Bay

Housing Costs

Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is higher Green Bay's 72, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $235,000. The $296,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,236 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $950/mo in Green Bay, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 98 in Green Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $466/month in Green Bay. 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 84 in Green Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $336 in Green Bay. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins and 96 in Green Bay. 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 $55,200 in Green Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $64,186 respectively. Fort Collins residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,745/month to housing in Fort Collins vs $1,288/month in Green Bay. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo fits within this budget. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 70 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Green Bay is 34.9% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 116.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,603 in Green Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Collins's housing index is 142 with median homes at $531,000, while Green Bay's is 72 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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