Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Fort Worth?

Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Fort Worth?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Fort Worth Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 6% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio

$883

$1,310

+48% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$1,191

+11% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,393

+2% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,721

+15% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$277,300

+8% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$76,602

+6% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$51,440

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

33.4 yr

+4.8 yr in Fort Worth, TX

Homeownership

40.5%

56.7%

+16.2 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

31.7%

+5.2 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Avg Commute

14.1 min

26.9 min

+12.8 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

465.2

+36% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

2,735.7

+22% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

27.7°F

65.7°F

+38.0°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

36.1 in

+25.3 in in Fort Worth, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.58/gal

+31% in Fairbanks, AK

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)

28.2

15.9

+43% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$31.89

+84% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / TX)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Fairbanks vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Fort Worth?: Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Fort Worth?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax 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).