Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Mesa?

Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Mesa?

Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Fort Worth vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Fort Worth, TX is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 3% higher in Mesa, AZ. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$1,209

+8% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$1,288

+8% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$1,458

+5% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,819

+6% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$364,300

+31% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$78,779

+3% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,380

+0% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.2 yr

+3.8 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

56.7%

64.4%

+7.7 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

31.5%

+0.2 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Avg Commute

26.9 min

25.0 min

+1.9 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

464.8

485.8

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

2,734.1

1,487.8

+46% 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

65.7°F

75.1°F

+9.4°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

8.0 in

+28.1 in in Fort Worth, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$5.57/gal

+41% in Mesa, AZ

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.6

+5% in Fort Worth, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$19.69

+20% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Mesa, AZ

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / AZ)

6.25%

5.6%

+0.7 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Fort Worth vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Mesa?: Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Mesa?: Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).