Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or West Valley City?

West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of natural gas costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in West Valley City?

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 West Valley City.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or West Valley City?

Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Fort Worth vs West Valley City Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/mo est.

West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 14% higher in West Valley City, UT. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Fort Worth, TX

West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$1,085

+17% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,191

about equal

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$1,333

+4% in Fort Worth, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,723

+0% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$377,300

+36% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$88,604

+16% in West Valley City, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$55,240

+7% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

30.3 yr

+3.1 yr in Fort Worth, TX

Homeownership

56.7%

71.1%

+14.4 pp in West Valley City, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

15.7%

+16.0 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Avg Commute

26.9 min

22.2 min

+4.7 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

465.2

471.8

+1% in West Valley City, UT

Property Crime

2,735.7

1,855.5

+32% 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

52.8°F

+12.9°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

16.1 in

+20.0 in in Fort Worth, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$4.27/gal

+19% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

13.4

+16% in Fort Worth, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$11.84

+63% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in West Valley City, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in West Valley City, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in West Valley City, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in West Valley City, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / UT)

6.25%

6.1%

+0.2 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in UT

Fort Worth vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or West Valley City?: West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Worth than in West Valley City?: 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 West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or West Valley City?: Fort Worth is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).