Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 27% higher in Fort Worth, TX. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$802
$1,310
+63% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,191
+16% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,393
+20% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,721
+29% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$277,300
+14% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$76,602
+38% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$51,440
+11% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
33.4 yr
+4.7 yr in Fort Worth, TX
Homeownership
47.3%
56.7%
+9.4 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
31.7%
+14.4 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
26.9 min
+9.5 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
465.2
+40% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
2,735.7
+16% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
65.7°F
+0.8°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
36.1 in
+9.3 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.9
+3% in Fort Worth, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$31.89
+10% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Fort Worth?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Fort Worth?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).