Median rent is 19% lower in Spokane ($1,215/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Worth, where the median home runs $303,000 versus $363,500. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $70,064 a year). Taken together, Spokane is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 92.4 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
Spokane is 10% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 92.4 in Spokane vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Spokane, WA
How much would you need to earn in Spokane, WA to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$67,601
You could earn $7,399 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
Spokane
Washington
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 Spokane at $1,215/mo compared to $1,509/mo in Fort Worth (19% gap). Median home values are within 17% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $363,500 in Spokane.
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
Spokane
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Spokane (avg AQI 52.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Spokane if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 92.4 vs 102.5).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Pick Spokane if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,215/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than Spokane?
Spokane is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 92.4 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 10% lower in Spokane.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs Spokane?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,215/mo in Spokane, WA. Spokane, WA has the lower rent by about 19%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or Spokane?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $70,064 in Spokane, WA. 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 Spokane?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Spokane 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 $90,135 in Spokane, WA (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
