Living Cost Compare
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

vs
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 20% 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 $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 33% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX
Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio
$1,310
$877
+33% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,191
$948
+20% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,393
$1,073
+23% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,721
$1,281
+26% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$277,300
$157,100
+43% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$76,602
$51,211
+33% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$46,890
+9% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.3 yr
+0.9 yr in Memphis, TN
Homeownership
56.7%
46.0%
+10.7 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.7%
28.2%
+3.5 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Avg Commute
26.9 min
21.3 min
+5.6 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
464.8
2,507.5
+439% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
2,734.1
6,965.8
+155% in Memphis, TN

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
63.1°F
+2.6°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
36.1 in
53.7 in
+17.6 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.35/gal
+10% in Memphis, TN

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.75
+13% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.1
+8% in Fort Worth, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$15.54
+37% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / TN)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Fort Worth vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Memphis?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% 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 Memphis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Memphis?
Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).