Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/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 $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 23% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$709
$1,310
+85% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,191
+46% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$999
$1,393
+39% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,721
+20% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$277,300
+14% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$76,602
+30% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$51,440
+10% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
33.4 yr
+4.7 yr in Fort Worth, TX
Homeownership
41.9%
56.7%
+14.8 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
31.7%
+18.1 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
18.2 min
26.9 min
+8.7 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
465.2
+8% in Fort Worth, TX
Property Crime
2,392.2
2,735.7
+14% 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
57.1°F
65.7°F
+8.6°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
36.1 in
+12.4 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.58/gal
+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.9
+13% in Fort Worth, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$31.89
+14% 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 (AR / TX)
6.5%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
None
+3.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Fort Worth?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Fort Worth?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).