Austin, TX vs Fort Worth, TX

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Worth is 24.8% cheaper than Austin. With a cost index of 101 vs 127, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Worth to Austin should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Austin is $1,655/month compared to $1,412/month in Fort Worth — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Worth is more affordable at $277,300 median vs $512,700.

Median household income in Austin is $91,461 compared to $76,602 in Fort Worth (+19.4%). The higher salaries in Austin partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Austin spend roughly 21.7% of their income on rent, less than the 22.1% in Fort Worth.