Douglas County, CO vs Fremont County, CO: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Fremont County, CO is cheaper than Douglas County, CO.

Moving to Fremont County, CO is estimated to save $25,995 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Fremont County, COSave about $25,995 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Douglas County, CO is about $31,975 in Fremont County, CO.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $571 per year. Housing saves $12,254 per year.

Housing: $12,254 lower in Fremont County, CO

Taxes: $7,922 lower in Fremont County, CO

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $571 higher in Fremont County, CO

Food: $681 lower in Fremont County, CO

Transport: $1,693 lower in Fremont County, CO

Douglas County, COFremont County, CO
Equivalent salary in Fremont County, CO
$31,975
-36.05% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Douglas County, CO: $164,967
Median Income in Fremont County, CO: $80,121
Living Index in Douglas County, CO 43.71%
Living Index in Fremont County, CO 57.54%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Douglas County, CO to Fremont County, CO.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Douglas County, CO to Fremont County, CO is estimated to save $25,995 per year. A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $31,975 in Fremont County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -36.05% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,254 per year lower (-53.63%); Taxes is $7,922 per year lower (-47.97%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Douglas County, CO and Fremont County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would need to be about $31,975 in Fremont County, CO, or $18,025 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 43.7% of median family income in Douglas County, CO and 57.5% in Fremont County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $12,254 per year lower in Fremont County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Fremont County, CO changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $681 per year lower in Fremont County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Fremont County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $1,693 per year lower in Fremont County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Fremont County, CO.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $571 per year higher in Fremont County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Fremont County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,016 per year lower in Fremont County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Fremont County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Douglas County, CO and Fremont County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Fremont County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $7,922 per year lower in Fremont County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Fremont County, CO matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Fremont County, CO.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Fremont County, CO
Annual Increase:

$571 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Fremont County, CO.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Fremont County, CO
Annual Savings:

$12,254 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Fremont County, CO.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-54% lower
Food-14% lower
Transport-12% lower
Healthcare11% higher
Other Costs-47% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-48% lower

In Fremont County, CO, modeled annual costs are $46,104 compared with $72,099 in Douglas County, CO.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Fremont County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Fremont County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Douglas County, CO is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Douglas County, CO vs Fremont County, CO Cost of Living (2026)