City Comparison

Fort Collins vs Juneau

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Collins

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

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

The Verdict

8.7%

Living in Fort Collins costs 8.7% less than Juneau. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $82,112 in Juneau.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
142
Fort Collins
131
Juneau
Groceries
100
Fort Collins
123
Juneau
Utilities
87
Fort Collins
140
Juneau
Transportation
108
Fort Collins
125
Juneau
Healthcare
97
Fort Collins
151
Juneau

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has the same purchasing power as $82,112 in Juneau.

Conversely, $75,000 in Juneau equals $68,504 in Fort Collins.

Living in Fort Collins vs Juneau

Housing Costs

Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is higher Juneau's 131, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $524,000. The $7,000 difference in home prices means roughly $456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $1,475/mo in Juneau, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 123 in Juneau. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $584/month in Juneau. Fort Collins offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1308/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 87 in Fort Collins and 140 in Juneau. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $560 in Juneau. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins and 151 in Juneau. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 54-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $74,800 in Fort Collins and $105,000 in Juneau. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $82,677 respectively. Juneau 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 $2,450/month in Juneau. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo fits within this budget. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Collins is 8.7% more affordable overall with an index of 116 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Collins has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,112 in Juneau, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Collins's housing index is 142 with median homes at $531,000, while Juneau's is 131 with median homes at $524,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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