Fort Collins vs Lincoln
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Collins
Lincoln
The Verdict
Living in Lincoln costs 24.7% less than Fort Collins. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $60,129 in Lincoln.
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 $60,129 in Lincoln.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lincoln equals $93,548 in Fort Collins.
Living in Fort Collins vs Lincoln
Housing Costs
Fort Collins's housing index of 142 is higher Lincoln's 77, translating to median home prices of $531,000 vs $264,000. The $267,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,352 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Fort Collins compared to $1,075/mo in Lincoln, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Fort Collins and 98 in Lincoln. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Fort Collins vs $466/month in Lincoln. 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 93 in Lincoln. Monthly utility bills average approximately $348 in Fort Collins vs $372 in Lincoln. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Fort Collins and 102 in Lincoln. 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 $71,900 in Lincoln. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,483 and $77,312 respectively. Lincoln 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 $1,678/month in Lincoln. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo fits within this budget. In Lincoln, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 65 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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