Median rent is 15% lower in St. Paul ($1,281/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in St. Paul, where the median home runs $294,500 versus $303,000. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $73,394 a year). Taken together, Fort Worth is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 102.5 against 104.3 — about 2% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Fort Worth is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 102.5 in Fort Worth vs 104.3 in St. Paul (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
St. Paul, MN
How much would you need to earn in St. Paul, MN to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$76,326
You'd need $1,326 more (2% 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
St. Paul
Minnesota
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 St. Paul at $1,281/mo compared to $1,509/mo in Fort Worth (15% gap). Median home values are within 3% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $294,500 in St. Paul.
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
St. Paul
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for St. Paul (avg AQI 55.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Pick St. Paul if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,281/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than St. Paul?
Fort Worth is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 102.5 versus 104.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in Fort Worth.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs St. Paul?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,281/mo in St. Paul, MN. St. Paul, MN has the lower rent by about 15%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or St. Paul?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $73,394 in St. Paul, MN. 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 St. Paul?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in St. Paul 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 $101,768 in St. Paul, MN (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
