Gas, utilities, and food prices (Colorado Springs, Fort Collins: transplants, sales, insurance)

[Floridanative2]

Can someone fill us in on the prices of gas, utilities, and food prices in the area around Fort Collins or Greely? I understand that food is taxed there? That is different for us, no tax on food, just paper items, soap, etc. Florida is 6% tax for the most part. And no income taxes. Gas here is 2.27(low) and 2.39 on the higher end. (lowest grade)

Do some people go to Cheyenne to shop? Just wondering...thinking about and covering all bases.

[sunsprit]

People in Cheyenne and Laramie head south to FtCollins to shop.

Reg gas today around $2.10. You can get the current pricing by a web search on www.(statename)gasprices.com (broken link).

Colorado state income tax runs 3%. Sales taxes run 6-8%, sometimes a bit more with local taxes.

Property taxes are generally low unless you're in a special taxing district for public works/improvements.

[COflower]

Unless they tax on a local level for food, there is no tax on food from the groceries on a state level.

Local entities may tax on fast food and restaurants and those are usually bundled into what many think of as a lodge tax or a tourism tax. Those are pretty normal across the state but not at the grocery.

Taxation on non-food items at a grocery vary from county to county and city to city.

Utilities cary from place to place. Colorado Springs has some of the lowest in utilities (natural gas, electricity, water, waste water) because we are a city owned utility and they can't profit. They can only raise rates to make improvments so my utility bills (per residential percentages) are going to be lower than those most areas of the state that are served by local and Excel Energy.

State income tax is a flat rate of 5%. Unlike places like Florida, we have a different way to get our taxes paid for because we don't have the tourism base they do. Heck, last I heard, Wyoming doesn't have them either. I used to do payroll for a tire store company where we had five stores and one was located in Cheyenne. Their sales tax rates are highier up there than down here but then again they didn't (don't) have income tax.

You may want to connect with the chambers of commerce in Ft. Collins and Greeley. Most CoCs have excellent information on those things you need to know.

EDIT: According to Colorado's Department of Revenue site (load the PDF file for the "income tax booklet" The current rate for income taxes is 4.63%

[BigCheeze]

Depending on where in FL you live the cost of living will be no higher, and probably lower (for example if you live in the Miami area, it will be a lot lower).

[Floridanative2]

Thank you for all the information. I was misinformed about the food taxation.It does sound cheaper to live there, considering all things.

[COflower]

Originally Posted by BigCheeze

Depending on where in FL you live the cost of living will be no higher, and probably lower (for example if you live in the Miami area, it will be a lot lower).

Not to mention (I have friends in FLA) the renter's or homeowners rates are way cheap compared to FL. I was shocked to find out how my my friend (who lives in Key West) has to pay in insurance. Holy cow.

I am more than happy to only pay $189 in renter's insurance compared to the amount she said.

While I don't recall her amount, I was insanely happy that I live in CO rather than FL.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by COflower

...I am more than happy to only pay $189 in renter's insurance, compared to the amount she said. While I don't recall her amount, I was insanely happy that I live in CO rather than FL.

Cool... money saved on renter's insurance... can get you a gallon of linament for rubbing your sore "snow shoveling" muscles.

[Floridanative2]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Cool... money saved on renter's insurance... can get you a gallon of linament for rubbing your sore "snow shoveling" muscles.

Speaking of snow, I was wondering how all the Florida transplants are handeling the snow. Shoveling, driving, playing, or just keeping warm.
Driving would be one of my concerns as I have never had to drive in ice or snow. Would have to get a good snow blower, I guess.