Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Fort Worth?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Fort Worth?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Fort Worth?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Fort Worth Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 17% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,310

+30% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,191

+10% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,393

+1% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,721

+3% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$277,300

+36% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$76,602

+20% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$51,440

+4% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

33.4 yr

+2.0 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

56.7%

+9.1 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

31.7%

+12.5 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

26.9 min

+8.3 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

465.2

+46% in Fort Worth, TX

Property Crime

3,348.9

2,735.7

+18% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

65.7°F

+13.2°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

36.1 in

+10.0 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

16.4

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$30.48

+48% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / TX)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

None

+9.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Fort Worth?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Fort Worth?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Fort Worth?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).