Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Houston?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Houston?

Neither — both are in Texas, so they share the same state tax rates: no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Fort Worth vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Fort Worth, TX versus $1,350 in Houston, TX. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 18% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Both cities are in Texas, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$1,142

+13% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$1,156

+3% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$1,375

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,664

+3% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$253,400

+9% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$62,894

+18% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,410

+4% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

34.3 yr

+0.9 yr in Houston, TX

Homeownership

56.7%

42.0%

+14.7 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

36.0%

+4.3 pp in Houston, TX

Avg Commute

26.9 min

27.3 min

+0.4 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

464.8

1,155.2

+149% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

2,734.1

4,325.3

+58% in Houston, 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

70.3°F

+4.6°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

54.6 in

+18.6 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$3.85/gal

+3% in Fort Worth, TX

Area: Texas vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$1.25

+38% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / TX)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Fort Worth vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Houston?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Houston?: Neither — both are in Texas, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).