Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,380 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Fort Worth, TX is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 7% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,310
+22% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,191
+24% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,393
+18% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,721
+11% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$277,300
+34% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$76,602
+7% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$51,440
+1% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
33.4 yr
+0.6 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
56.7%
+10.4 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
31.7%
+26.7 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
26.9 min
+0.1 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
464.8
+23% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
2,734.1
+23% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
65.7°F
+3.1°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
36.1 in
+13.6 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Atlanta, GA

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs Trinity Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.4
+9% in Fort Worth, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$24.61
+34% in Fort Worth, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Fort Worth?
Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Fort Worth?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).