Living Cost Compare
Detroit

Michigan

$970/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 $970 in Detroit, MI versus $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Detroit, MI is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,575 in Detroit, MI and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 48% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Detroit, MI
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$801
$1,310
+64% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$752
$1,191
+58% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,001
$1,393
+39% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,721
+44% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$76,800
$277,300
+261% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$39,575
$76,602
+94% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,080
$51,440
+1% in Detroit, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Detroit, MI
Homeownership
49.7%
56.7%
+7.0 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
17.6%
31.7%
+14.1 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Avg Commute
25.4 min
26.9 min
+1.5 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,783.4
465.2
+74% in Detroit, MI
Property Crime
4,391.6
2,735.7
+38% in Detroit, MI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.3°F
65.7°F
+15.4°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
31.3 in
36.1 in
+4.8 in in Fort Worth, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Detroit, MI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
22.0
16.4
+25% in Detroit, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.07
$30.48
+117% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Detroit, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Fort Worth, TX
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Detroit, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Detroit, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Detroit, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
None
+4.3 pp in MI

Detroit vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Fort Worth?
Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Detroit than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Detroit versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Fort Worth?
Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).