Median rent is 19% lower in Fort Worth ($1,509/mo vs $1,871/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Worth, where the median home runs $303,000 versus $806,600. Households earn more in Long Beach ($87,430 vs $79,507 a year). Taken together, Fort Worth is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 102.5 against 114.7 — about 11% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Fort Worth is 11% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 102.5 in Fort Worth vs 114.7 in Long Beach (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Long Beach, CA
How much would you need to earn in Long Beach, CA to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Long Beach, CA
$83,971
You'd need $8,971 more (12% higher).
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
Long Beach
California
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 Fort Worth at $1,509/mo compared to $1,871/mo in Long Beach (19% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Long Beach: the median home is $806,600 versus $303,000 in Fort Worth — 62% more expensive.
Metric
Fort Worth
Long Beach
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
Long Beach
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Long Beach (avg AQI 65.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 102.5 vs 114.7).
Pick Long Beach if you prioritize higher median household income ($87,430/yr).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,509/mo median).
Fort Worth is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 102.5 versus 114.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 11% lower in Fort Worth.
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,871/mo in Long Beach, CA. Fort Worth, TX has the lower rent by about 19%.
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $87,430 in Long Beach, CA. Long Beach, CA 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 $111,961 in Long Beach, CA (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
