Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 26% higher in Fort Worth, TX. 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.

Columbus, GA
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$826
$1,310
+59% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$875
$1,191
+36% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,393
+41% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,721
+41% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$277,300
+52% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$76,602
+35% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$51,440
+18% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Columbus, GA
Homeownership
50.2%
56.7%
+6.5 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
31.7%
+2.0 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Avg Commute
20.2 min
26.9 min
+6.7 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
465.2
+24% in Columbus, GA
Property Crime
2,273.4
2,735.7
+20% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.7°F
65.7°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
36.1 in
+10.7 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Columbus, GA

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)
15.8
16.4
+4% in Fort Worth, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$30.48
+8% in Columbus, GA

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

Columbus vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Fort Worth?
Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Fort Worth?
Columbus 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).