IMPORTANT: Off-Campus Life has created a basic calculation for monthly costs of on and off-campus living in the Fort Collins community. This is ONLY a comparison of room and board. Off-campus living can have many up-front and on-going costs that cannot be shown below, such as utility start-ups and lease application fees, buying furniture, stocking up on household cleaning and maintenance supplies, transportation, and parking costs, etc. Additionally, most leases off campus are 12 months, which means there are about 4 more months in the calendar year of rent to pay compared to the roughly 8-month residence hall cycle.
It’s important to take into consideration the following questions when deciding whether living on vs off campus is right for you:
- Can I afford to live off campus?
- Do I know what type of housing I want?
- Am I ready to be more independent and take on additional responsibilities (ex. house and yard maintenance)?
- Will I be able to afford monthly bills, such as utilities, wi-fi, cable, etc.?
- Am I willing to spend extra time commuting to class?
- Am I willing to travel back to campus for co-curricular events or study sessions after class?
- Am I willing to travel back to campus for co-curricular events or study sessions after class?
- Do I know what type of transportation I will use (car, bike, bus) and can I afford associated costs?
- Do I have time to grocery shop and cook?
- Do I have an idea of who I would like to live with off campus?
- Will I be able to communicate effectively with my roommates and/or neighbors?
- Am I familiar with city codes/ordinances and how they can affect me?
Whether living on or off campus, it is important to calculate the cost of food into the equation. Below is a comparison of on-campus meal plans with off-campus food costs.
MEAL PLAN (2021-2022) | TOTAL MONTHLY COST |
Any 10 – 10 meals per week, 15 flexible bonus meals per semester; $150 RamCash per semester | $626.25 |
Any 15 – 15 meals per week, 15 flexible bonus meals per semester; $150 RamCash per semester | $800.00 |
Any 19 – 19 meals per week, 15 flexible bonus meals per semester; $150 RamCash per semester. | $853.75 |
Ultimate – Up to 56 meals per week, 15 flexible bonus meals per semester; $150 RamCash per semester. | $978.75 |
IMPORTANT: All Residence Hall rooms require a meal plan selection that includes $150 RamCash, 15 flexible bonus meals per semester, and access to six dining centers and two express facilities. Each semester meal plan is divided by 4 (112 days) to determine monthly cost. Meal plan selections information can be found on the Housing & Dining Services website.
|
RESIDENCE HALLS (Utilities Included) |
RENT PER PERSON |
TOTAL MONTHLY COST (See range of meal plan costs above) |
|
Community-Style Double (Allison, Durward, Edwards, Ingersoll, Newsom, Westfall) |
$773.25 |
$1,399.50 – $1,752.00 |
|
Community-Style Towers Triple (Durward, Westfall) |
$773.25 |
$1,399.50 – $1,752.00 |
|
Community-Style Double (Laurel Village) |
$857.00 |
$1,483.25 – $1,835.75 |
|
Suite-Style Double (Braiden) |
$913.25 |
$1,539.50 – $1,892.00 |
|
Suite-Style Double (Corbett, Parmelee) |
$920.00 |
$1,546.25 – $1,898.75 |
|
Community-Style Designed Single (Allison, Durward) |
$978.25 |
$1,604.50 – $1,957.00 |
|
Suite-Style Double (Braiden 4th floor loft) |
$1,003.50 |
$1,629.75 – $1,982.25 |
|
Suite-Style Double (Summit, Parmelee 4th floor loft) |
$1,013.25 |
$1,639.50 – $1,992.00 |
|
Suite Style Double w/ Private Bath (Academic Village, Laurel Village) |
$1,035.00 |
$1,661.25 – $2,013.75 |
|
Suite Style Double in Quad w/ Private Bath (Academic Village) |
$1,035.00 |
$1,661.25 – $2,013.75 |
|
Suite Designed Single (Corbett, Braiden, Parmelee) |
$1,035.00 |
$1,661.25 – $2,013.75 |
|
Community-Style Single (Laurel Village) |
$1,089.25 |
$1,715.50 – $2,068.00 |
|
Suite-Style Single (Braiden 4th floor) |
$1,289.75 |
$1,916.00 – $2,268.50 |
|
Suite-Style Single (Laurel Village, Summit, Parmelee 4th floor) |
$1,299.25 |
$1,925.50 – $2,278.00 |
|
Suite-Style Single in Quad (Laurel Village) |
$1,299.25 |
$1,925.50 – $2,278.00 |
|
Suite-Style Single with Private Bathroom (Academic Village, Laurel Village) |
$1,359.50 |
$1,985.75 – $2,338.25 |
NOTE: Specific residence hall information and floor plans can be found on the Housing & Dining Services website. Rent per person is calculated by building and room type, then divided by 4 (112 days) to determine an average monthly rent. Monthly rent includes utilities.
| LOW-COST | MODERATE |
Male | $295.60 | $371.10 |
Female | $256.30 | $313.80 |
Combined Average (Male/Female) | $275.95 | $342.45 |
NOTE: Off Campus food cost information is based on Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Three Levels, U.S. Average, December 2022. The Combined average cost range is used for the off-campus apartments total monthly cost below.
Off Campus-Life acknowledges that the USDA food data collected is on a binary. This is the most up to date information and will keep informed on any changes.
OFF-CAMPUS APTS. (Utilities Included) | RENT PER PERSON | TOTAL MONTHLY COST (Includes Combined Average Off-Campus Food Costs Per Month – see above) |
Ram’s Village 1 Bdrm | $1,450.00 | $1,725.95-$1,792.45 |
The Grove 2 Bdrm | $919.00 | $1,194.95 – $1,261.45 |
Ram’s Pointe 2 Bdrm | $790.00 | $1,065.95 – $1,132.45 |
Ram’s Village 2 Bdrm | $770.00 | $1,045.95-$1,112.45 |
The District 2 Bdrm | $919.00 | $1,194.95-$1,261.45 |
The Grove 3 Bdrm | $789.00 | $1,064.95-$1,131.45 |
Ram’s Pointe 3 Bdrm | $665.00-$745.00 | $920.95 – $1,087.45 |
Ram’s Village 3 Bdrm | $619.00 | $894.95-$961.45 |
The District 3 Bdrm | $839.00 | $1,114.95-$1,181.45 |
The Grove 4 Bdrm | $799.00 | $1,074.95-$1,141.45 |
Rams Pointe 4 Bdrm | $599.00 | $874.95-$941.45 |
Rams Village 4 Bdrm | $635.00 | $910.95-$977.45 |
The District 4 Bdrm | $789.00 | $1,064.95-$1,131.45 |
AMENITY | RESIDENCE HALLS | THE GROVE | RAM’S POINTE | RAM’S VILLAGE |
Basketball courts | X | X | X | X |
Cable |
| X | X | X |
Coffee shop | X | X | X | X |
Computer lab | X | X | X | X |
Dining options | X |
|
|
|
Fully furnished | X | X | X | X |
Game room | X | X | X |
|
High-speed Internet | X | X | X | X |
Individual lease | X | X | X | X |
In-unit washer & dryer |
| X | X |
|
Library | X |
|
|
|
Lounge area | X | X | X |
|
Outdoor fire pits |
| X |
|
|
Outdoor grills |
| X | X | X |
Study area | X | X | X | X |
Swimming pool(s) | X | X | X | X |
Tutoring | X |
|
|
|
Volleyball courts | X | X | X | X |
Workout facility | X | X | X | X |
Corn Hole | X | X | ||
Tennis Courts | X |
DISCLAIMER: the four apartment complexes being compared are some of the most common student-focused complexes near campus. Off-campus life DOES NOT ENDORSE nor is directly affiliated with the apartment complexes. All data was obtained directly from apartment complexes and sources cited.