Living Cost Compare
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 18% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,310
$1,183
+10% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,191
$1,195
+0% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,393
$1,374
+1% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,721
$1,447
+16% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$277,300
$328,100
+18% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$76,602
$62,671
+18% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$51,460
+0% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.5 yr
+1.1 yr in Richmond, VA
Homeownership
56.7%
43.5%
+13.2 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.7%
44.1%
+12.4 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
26.9 min
22.1 min
+4.8 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
465.2
349
+25% in Fort Worth, TX
Property Crime
2,735.7
3,240.2
+18% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+6.8°F in Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
36.1 in
43.6 in
+7.5 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Richmond, VA

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
17.6
+7% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$23.66
+22% 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 (TX / VA)
6.25%
5.3%
+1.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in VA

Fort Worth vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Richmond?
They're close. Fort Worth, TX runs about $1,390 a month and Richmond, VA about $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in Richmond?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $48,000 in Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Richmond?
Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).