Cost of Living: Dallas, TX vs Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth is about 0% cheaper than Dallas overall.
Comparing Dallas, TX and Fort Worth, TX across cost of living, rent, income, and the salary needed to live comfortably. Fort Worth has a lower overall price level, driven mainly by housing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Dallas | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 103.1 | 103.1 |
| Median rent | $1,403 | $1,412 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $1,648 | $1,648 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $1,931 | $1,931 |
| Median home value | $295,300 | $277,300 |
| Median household income | $67,760 | $76,602 |
| Salary needed (single) | $65,900 | $65,900 |
| Salary needed (family) | $97,200 | $97,200 |
Green highlights the more favorable value for each metric. Lower is better for costs; higher is better for income. Figures are estimates from public data (BEA, Census, HUD).
Which City Is More Affordable?
Overall, Fort Worth is the more affordable of the two, with a cost-of-living index of 103.1 versus 103.1 for Dallas. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in Dallas run noticeably higher.
You can read the full breakdown for each city on its own page: cost of living in Dallas and cost of living in Fort Worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Fort Worth?
Fort Worth is about 0% cheaper than Dallas overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Fort Worth: 103.1 vs Dallas: 103.1).
What is the rent difference between Dallas and Fort Worth?
The median rent is $1,403 in Dallas and $1,412 in Fort Worth.
How much salary do you need in Dallas vs Fort Worth?
A single person needs about $65,900 in Dallas and $65,900 in Fort Worth to live comfortably.
Data Sources
Cost-of-living index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities). Income, rent, and home value from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-Year). Fair Market Rents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.