City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Fort Collins, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Eugene, OR (101.6) and Fort Collins, CO (101.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Eugene, OR goes as far as $99,600 in Fort Collins, CO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,537 a month in Fort Collins, CO versus $1,286 in Eugene, OR. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Fort Collins, CO and 22% in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,229 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Fort Collins, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.5% moving from Eugene, OR to Fort Collins, CO ($106,437 → $118,675), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.0% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Fort Collins, CO: price level 101.1 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Fort Collins, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 101.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,567 in Fort Collins | $100,435 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,537/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $55,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Denver-Aurora, CO |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Fort Collins-Loveland, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 120.6 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 82.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 101.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Fort Collins, CO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,229/yr.
70 Strong offer
Fort Collins, CO → Eugene, OR
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,229/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Fort Collins, CO is in Denver-Aurora, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Fort Collins, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Fort Collins, CO | Real change, Eugene → Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,819 | +12.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,265 | +12.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $99,800 | +12.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,675 | +12.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,239 | +12.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Fort Collins, CO | Fort Collins pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $62,930 | $63,204 (−1.6%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $133,990 | $134,573 (+11.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $89,340 | $89,729 (+12.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $97,600 | $98,025 (−13.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.