Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Worth, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Worth, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,791 in Fort Worth, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $4,105 in Fort Worth, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,419 in Fort Worth, TX.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Fort Worth, TX 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$19.70 $19.70

-0.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$55.0 $55.0

54.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.03 $12.03

2.24%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$6.18 $6.18

-11.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.90 $2.90

24.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.34 $2.34

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.63 $5.63

40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.17 $8.17

8.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.88 $0.88

21.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.87 $3.87

-4.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.07 $5.07

-34.12%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.77 $3.77

13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$10.87 $10.87

19.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$15.07 $15.07

-5.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$20.02 $20.02

-16.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.42 $6.42

-30.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.58 $2.58

-44.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.19 $5.19

-11.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.62 $4.62

1.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.63 $2.63

3.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.31 $3.31

-22.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.33 $2.33

-18.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.49 $2.49

-12.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$9.54 $9.54

5.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$20.82 $20.82

-27.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.10 $2.10

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.32 $3.32

-0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.06 $2.06

-25.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$77.0 $77.0

-46.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.97 $2.97

-9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.78 $1.78

-7.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$23.67 $23.67

48.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.0K $37.0K

-1.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

3.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 $223

$210 $210

6.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.4 $57.4

$93.3 $93.3

-38.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$82.3 $82.3

-16.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$56.3 $56.3

16.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$20.27 $20.27

-27.92%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$15.91 $15.91

-12.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,523 $1,523

$1,931 $1,931

-21.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$28.4K $28.4K

-24.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$59.9 $59.9

-11.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$49.48 $49.48

-13.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$126 $126

-32.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$129 $129

-20.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,624 $1,624

19.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,314 $1,314

-3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,790 $2,790

34.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,247 $2,247

13.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$4,160 $4,160

72.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,861 $1,861

68.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$4,403 $4,403

12.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.07

6.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fort Worth, TX: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,624 in Fort Worth, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $55.0 in Fort Worth, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $455, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Fort Worth, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Fort Worth, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,624 in Fort Worth, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,791 in Fort Worth, TX – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 86% less than in Fort Worth, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Fort Worth, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.