How much does it cost to rent in Fort Collins, CO?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Fort Collins, CO is $1,938. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Fort Collins cheaper than other Colorado cities?

Fort Collins falls in the middle range for Colorado, ranking #43 out of 66 cities at $1,938/mo.

When was Fort Collins rent data last updated?

Fort Collins rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CO

Fort Collins

Name: Average Rent Prices in Fort Collins, CO
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 170,229·43rd most expensive in Colorado·Rental market data updated monthly for Fort Collins, CO

Median rent (all units)

$1,938/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.1%

Month-over-Month

+1.0%

vs US Median

-$27

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Fort Collins · $1,938

More expensive than 55% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

64/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% below what Fort Collins's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,938/mo

Expected by trend

$2,081/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Fort Collins's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,448

1 BR

$1,456

2 BR

$1,710

3 BR

$2,396

4 BR+

$2,558

Research median

$1,710/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$23,256/yr

At $1,938/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.1% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Fort Collins, CO is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 60.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

170,229

Median income

$85,070

Median age

30.9

Renters

48.4%

Age distribution

16.5%

39.3%

22.5%

12.8%

Under 1816.5%

18–3439.3%

35–5422.5%

55–648.9%

65+12.8%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

80.4%

12.8%

White80.4%

Black1.4%

Hispanic12.8%

Asian3.4%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

12.9%

23.9%

60.7%

No HS diploma2.5%

HS diploma12.9%

Some college23.9%

Bachelor's+60.7%

Housing tenure

51.6%

48.4%

Owner51.6%

Renter48.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Fort Collins, CO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,544 → $1,938

up 25.5%

Income

$72,932 → $85,070

up 16.6%

Population

166,788 → 170,229

up 2.1%

Renter share

47% → 48.4%

+1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

56.6% → 60.7%

+4.1 pts

Median age

30 → 30.9

+0.9 yrs

Rent in Fort Collins, CO has climbed 25.5% since 2021, going from about $1,544 per month to roughly $1,938 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Fort Collins, CO now reports about $85,070, up from $72,932 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 8.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 166,788 to 170,229 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.1% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 56.6% to 60.7%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Fort Collins, CO reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Fort Collins

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View Fort Collins rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Fort Collins on your salary?

At $1,938/mo, how Fort Collins rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $99,204/yr · Rent = 23.4% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $70,434/yr · Rent = 33% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $81,134/yr · Rent = 28.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $145,016/yr · Rent = 16% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $185,294/yr · Rent = 12.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $65,951/yr · Rent = 35.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $59,546/yr · Rent = 39.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $73,395/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

By apartment size

Fort Collins rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Fort Collins. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Fort Collins

About renting in Fort Collins, CO

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Fort Collins is $1,938/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,448/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,710/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,456/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,396/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($85,070/yr), Fort Collins ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Fort Collins an affordable city for renters?

Fort Collins is considered affordable for renters. At $1,938/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($85,070/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Fort Collins falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Fort Collins?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $78,000/year (~$38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,938/mo in Fort Collins. The local median household income is $85,070/yr, meaning the typical Fort Collins household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Fort Collins?

Rent in Fort Collins has decreased 1.1% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which Fort Collins neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Fort Collins are 80521 ($1,817/mo), 80525 ($1,844/mo), and 80526 ($2,007/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Fort Collins is $1,938/mo.

How does Fort Collins rent compare to other cities in Colorado?

Fort Collins is middle-of-the-pack for Colorado for rent, ranking #43 out of 66 tracked cities at $1,938/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fort Collins?

Loveland is nearby and more affordable at $1,859/mo, which is $79 less than Fort Collins.

What percentage of Fort Collins residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.4% of Fort Collins households are renters, while 51.6% are owner-occupied. Fort Collins leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Fort Collins rent compare to the national average?

Fort Collins's median rent of $1,938/mo is $27 (1%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Colorado, it ranks #43 out of 66 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,938/mo, rent takes ~27% of Fort Collins's median household income ($85,070/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Fort Collins 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.4%

Run the Fort Collins affordability calculator →

Nearby cities