Cost of Living in Fort Worth
Fort Worth runs close to the national average on overall cost of living -- BestPlaces.net puts its composite index at 101.5, about 1.5% above the U.S. average but 7.7% above the Texas state average. Unusually for a Sun Belt city this size, its housing sub-index actually runs below the national average, which is a genuinely different profile than many comparably growing metros.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreThe Overall Index, and What Drives It
BestPlaces.net's cost-of-living index for Fort Worth, TX (retrieved August 2026) scores the city at 101.5 against a national baseline of 100 -- close to average nationally, though notably higher than the Texas statewide average (about 7.7% higher). Grocery and health sub-indices both run close to the national baseline (97.7 and 99.4 respectively), while the housing sub-index is cited at 85.5 -- meaningfully below the national average, which is a real point of differentiation from Florida Gulf Coast metros where housing is typically the driver pushing the overall index up rather than down.
Groceries & Everyday Costs
BestPlaces.net's grocery index for Fort Worth (97.7) sits just below the national baseline of 100 -- a modest advantage rather than a dramatic one. No independently sourced figure for childcare costs specifically was found this pass; treat that as an open gap rather than assuming it tracks the overall index.
Housing as a Below-Average Cost Driver
Fort Worth's housing cost index (85.5 per BestPlaces.net) running below the national average is consistent with the city's median home price (see the housing-market topic page) sitting below both the national median and below neighboring Dallas's. This is one of the more genuinely differentiating cost-of-living facts about Fort Worth relative to faster-appreciating Sun Belt peers.
Healthcare
Fort Worth's healthcare cost index (99.4 per BestPlaces.net) is essentially at the national average -- neither a standout advantage nor disadvantage, despite the city's genuine hospital-system depth (see the healthcare topic page for that separate, non-cost dimension).
Taxes
Texas has no state personal income tax, which is the single largest structural cost-of-living advantage Fort Worth carries relative to most other major metros nationally. It does not offset Tarrant County's relatively high property tax burden for homeowners -- see the taxes and property-taxes topic pages for the full picture, since a renter and a homeowner experience Fort Worth cost of living differently here.
Key takeaways
- Fort Worth's overall cost of living runs about 1.5% above the U.S. average (BestPlaces.net index: 101.5), but about 7.7% above the Texas state average.
- Unusually, housing runs below the national average (85.5 index) rather than being the main driver of the overall figure -- a different profile than most fast-growing Sun Belt metros.
- Groceries (97.7) and healthcare (99.4) both sit close to the national baseline.
- No state income tax is the biggest structural cost advantage, independent of the BestPlaces index -- but it does not offset a relatively high property tax burden for homeowners (see property-taxes).
- No independently sourced Fort Worth-specific childcare cost figure was found this pass.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Fort Worth overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert