Median rent is 10% lower in Houston ($1,361/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Houston, where the median home runs $277,800 versus $303,000. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $64,813 a year). Taken together, Houston is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 99.7 against 102.5 — about 3% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Houston is 3% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 99.7 in Houston vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Houston, TX
How much would you need to earn in Houston, TX to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$72,983
You could earn $2,017 less (3% 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
Houston
Texas
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
Median rent is modestly lower in Houston at $1,361/mo compared to $1,509/mo in Fort Worth (10% gap). Median home values are within 8% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $277,800 in Houston.
Metric
Fort Worth
Houston
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · 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
Houston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Houston (avg AQI 59.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Houston is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 99.7 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 3% lower in Houston.
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,361/mo in Houston, TX. Houston, TX has the lower rent by about 10%.
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $64,813 in Houston, TX. Fort Worth, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $97,311 in Houston, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
