Fort Collins vs Hillsboro
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Collins
Hillsboro
The Verdict
Fort Collins is 9.4% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Collins would need approximately $82,759 in Hillsboro to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has the same purchasing power as $82,759 in Hillsboro.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $67,969 in Fort Collins.
Living in Fort Collins vs Hillsboro
Housing Costs
Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $533,000. The $2,000 difference in home prices means roughly $132 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $513/month in Hillsboro. Fort Collins offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 87 in Fort Collins and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins and 103 in Hillsboro. 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro 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 $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo fits within this budget. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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