Cost of living is one of the most important factors to consider when moving to another state. And that is why Fort Collins and Colorado have a lot of people coming into the community from other more expensive places like Texas, New York, Boston, etc.
But as you know, inflation has been running wild the last few months, which has significantly impacted housing prices, groceries, gas, vehicles, etc. So today, we’re talking about the cost of living in Fort Collins 2022.
The cost of housing
One of the biggest drivers of our cost of living is our housing prices. Compared to 2021, the median sales price of a home has seen a significant increase – around 26% year over year. Additionally, the interest rates have doubled to about 6% for a 30-year fixed mortgage. This immediately impacts the affordability of housing.
$600,000 Median Sales Price
5% Down = $570,000
6% 30-Year Fixed Loan = $3,415 Principal and Interest
Property Taxes and Insurance = $250 + $ 150
HOA = $75/Month
PMI = $150/Month
Total Monthly Mortgage Including PITI, HOA and PMI = $4,040.00/Month
But if you want to rent a place here, you can expect to pay around $2700 per month for a 4-bedroom house or around $675 per bedroom. The thing about renting is you don’t have to think about paying property taxes and insurance, but you should buy a renter’s insurance which is around $150 to $200 per year.
Utilities
The main utilities in Fort Collins include gas, electricity, stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water. When it comes to electricity, stormwater, and wastewater and drinking water, you can expect to pay around $175 to $185 per month, depending on the size of your house and the number of people living there.
During the summer months, you can expect to pay less for heat than during winter as our ACs run off of electricity and you will rarely use your natural gas fed furnace. That will flip flop during the winter as far as monthly expenses go. Expect to pay around $20-40/Month for Gas during the summers and $140-$160/Month during the winter.
We are fortunate to have Fort Collins Connexions here as our local municipality provided internet provider. For 1 GB speed you could be paying as little as $69/Month!
So, if we take into consideration gas, electricity, water, and internet, the average cost of utilities in Fort Collins is around $330-350 per month.
Child care
When it comes to daycare, you can expect to pay around $50 to $75 per kid per day. A nanny would cost you around $18 to $25 per hour.
Gas rates
Right now, gas prices are around $3.50 to $5 per gallon. The average American drives around 12,000 miles per year. I would suggest, that Fort Collins is a commuting community, so you will definitely be driving your car daily. If you drive a reasonable and gas-efficient car (25mpg), you can expect to pay around $170-250 per month for gas usage in Fort Collins.
A fun fact about Fort Collins is that public transportation is totally free right now! So go check out Transfort and the MAX transit line.
Food costs
As you know, eating out is not the most affordable option, so I suggest you pack lunch whenever you get a chance and save some money. But in case you want to eat out, here’s what you should know about our food costs.
For example, if you want to grab a quick lunch (burrito or basket of chicken), you can expect to pay around $10-15/person. If you’re looking for more of a sit down option for breakfast or lunch, a family of 4 will run you about $50-$75 (including tip).
On another hand, monthly groceries could cost you around $800 to $1300 for a family of five.
Other costs
Let’s mention some other costs to have in mind.
- Auto insurance – Expect to pay around $250 for two cars and an umbrellas policy per household
- Health insurance – Around $1400 for a family of 5 (deductible $6,500/person and $13,000 max out of pocket spend annually)
- Animal expenses – Around $250 per month for food, vet bills etc.
- Gym membership – Around $160 per month for a family of five
- Cell phone bill – Around $280 for five lines
Final thoughts
So there you have it! That’s the cost of living in Fort Collins 2022. Costs have most definitely risen, and hopefully we will see wages rise as well.
I hope this article helped you understand the cost of living in Fort Collins in 2022. If you’re looking for more information about Northern Colorado, drop us a message; we’d love to help you out!
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