One of the most commonly asked questions about Fort Collins is definitely concerning living costs. If you’ve ever wondered whether Fort Collins, Colorado, is an expensive place to live, this is the article for you. Let’s dive in!
Perspective is Key
When talking about whether a town is expensive or not, we have to talk about perspective first. Fort Collins will definitely be incredibly cheap for someone who’s from a big city or a larger metro. But for someone who’s already living in Colorado or possibly the Midwest, this might not be the case. It all depends on your perspective so have that in mind when reading this article.
Affordable costs of living in Fort Collins
Restaurants/Take Out
These days, take-out lunches are more expensive than before. From around $12 for a delicious burger to $14 for a full burrito meal (drink included). But going out to eat is pretty affordable compared to bigger metros.
Gasoline
When it comes to gas costs, it also depends on the car you drive. Generally, it costs around $3.75-$4 (changed to $3.30 to $3.50 as of 1/24/2022) per gallon which is definitely cheaper than in California where gas is around $4.5-$4.75 per gallon.
Utilities
Our utility bills seem pretty fair. From using gas in the winters to heat your home, to electric in the summer to cool your home, the costs offset. For example, the average gas bill is around $70, depending on the season. Your water bill will be $20-$40/month during the winter and up to $100-$150/month in the summer when watering your lawn. We just switched to Connexions internet and are paying $60/month for 1GB of internet speed.
So why is Fort Collins considered expensive?
It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. The reason why Fort Collins is often referred to as an expensive town to live in is due to our housing expenses.
Just like everywhere else in the United States, the housing market in Fort Collins skyrocketed in the last couple of years. For instance, the median sales price in Fort Collins is around $525,000.
There’s no denying that Fort Collins is an expensive place to buy or rent a house. But as I mentioned earlier, perspective is crucial. It all depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re looking to buy in the area. You could be paying MUCH higher homeowners insurance in Oklahoma or Florida (natural disaster areas). You could also be paying significantly higher property taxes in New Jersey and Illinois, whereas in Fort Collins and Colorado, property taxes are very reasonable.
Final thoughts
Fort Collins and Colorado are extremely desirable places to live. Combined with the low interest rates over the previous two years, inability to build faster due to supply and material shortages, the housing inventory is at record lows. We hope to see the housing market (across the nation) cool off sooner than later, but for right now, it is an expensive part of everyone’s lives and that holds true here in Fort Collins. If you have any questions about Fort Collins or Northern Colorado, please reach out!
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