Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Topeka?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% 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 Topeka?

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

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Topeka?

Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Fort Worth vs Topeka Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

Topeka

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 32% 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 $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 27% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX

Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$702

+46% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$758

+36% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$977

+30% in Fort Worth, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,177

+32% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$130,600

+53% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$55,902

+27% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,540

+4% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

38.2 yr

+4.8 yr in Topeka, KS

Homeownership

56.7%

59.2%

+2.5 pp in Topeka, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

29.1%

+2.6 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Avg Commute

26.9 min

16.7 min

+10.2 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

465.2

856.5

+84% in Topeka, KS

Property Crime

2,735.7

3,660.2

+34% in Topeka, KS

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

55.1°F

+10.6°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

36.5 in

+0.4 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.85/gal

+8% in Topeka, KS

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.7

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$25.12

+21% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Topeka, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Fort Worth, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Topeka, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Topeka, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / KS)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Fort Worth vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Topeka?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% 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 Topeka?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Topeka?: Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).