Median rent is 22% lower in Greensboro ($1,172/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Greensboro, where the median home runs $244,800 versus $303,000. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $61,515 a year). Taken together, Greensboro is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 92.8 against 102.5 — about 10% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Greensboro is 10% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 92.8 in Greensboro vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Greensboro, NC
How much would you need to earn in Greensboro, NC to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Greensboro, NC
$67,873
You could earn $7,127 less (10% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fort Worth
Texas
Greensboro
North Carolina
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Greensboro — median rent of $1,172/mo versus $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, a 22% difference. Median home values are within 19% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $244,800 in Greensboro.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fort Worth
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Greensboro
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Greensboro (avg AQI 43.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Greensboro if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 92.8 vs 102.5).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Pick Greensboro if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,172/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than Greensboro?
Greensboro is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 92.8 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 10% lower in Greensboro.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs Greensboro?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,172/mo in Greensboro, NC. Greensboro, NC has the lower rent by about 22%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or Greensboro?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $61,515 in Greensboro, NC. Fort Worth, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Worth or Greensboro?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Greensboro to match my Fort Worth income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $90,498 in Greensboro, NC (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
