Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Providence?

Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $41,000 in Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Providence?

Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Fort Worth vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 6% 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 $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 13% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$1,116

+15% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$1,030

+14% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$1,323

+5% in Fort Worth, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,627

+5% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$322,800

+16% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$66,772

+13% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$53,680

+4% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

32.9 yr

+0.5 yr in Fort Worth, TX

Homeownership

56.7%

41.2%

+15.5 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

34.7%

+3.0 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

26.9 min

25.0 min

+1.9 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

465.2

282.4

+39% in Fort Worth, TX

Property Crime

2,735.7

1,665.6

+39% 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

51.6°F

+14.1°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

47.2 in

+11.1 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Providence, RI

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

29.5

+79% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$16.06

+47% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Providence, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Providence, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Providence, RI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Providence, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / RI)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Fort Worth vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Providence?: Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in Providence?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Providence?: Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% 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).