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: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,691 in Fort Worth, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $4,024 in Fort Worth, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,358 in Fort Worth, TX.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Fort Worth, TX 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.70 $17.70

11.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$61.1 $61.1

24.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$12.14 $12.14

-18.78%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.54 $6.54

-16.21%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.57 $2.57

3.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.94 $1.94

7.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.92 $4.92

23.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$5.89 $5.89

38.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.89 $0.89

23.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.28 $3.28

3.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.89 $3.89

-13.11%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.49 $3.49

25.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.94 $9.94

21.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$15.50 $15.50

-30.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$18.91 $18.91

-22.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.06 $6.06

-18.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.66 $2.66

-43.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.92 $3.92

12.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.91 $3.91

4.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.33 $2.33

20.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.77 $2.77

3.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.26 $2.26

-13.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.21 $2.21

-1.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.87 $8.87

1.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$19.81 $19.81

-23.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.90 $1.90

22.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.38 $4.38

-21.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$3.16 $3.16

-51.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$81.6 $81.6

-45.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.06 $3.06

44.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.77 $1.77

3.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$23.60 $23.60

46.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.73 $0.73

6.85%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.2K $24.2K

7.37%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.0K $27.0K

-4.28%

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

$175 $175

$232 $232

-24.74%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$75.3 $75.3

-20.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$76.7 $76.7

-14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$36.27 $36.27

68.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$27.46 $27.46

-63.98%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$13.24 $13.24

11.48%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,827 $1,827

-24.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

-5.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$60.8 $60.8

-6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$46.06 $46.06

-1.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$117 $117

-27.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$129 $129

-8.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,622 $1,622

35.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,247 $1,247

12.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,697 $2,697

41.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,283 $2,283

17.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$4,105 $4,105

73.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,858 $1,858

65.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,409 $4,409

15.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fort Worth, TX: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,622 in Fort Worth, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Fort Worth, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $423, 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

Fort Worth, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Worth, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,622 in Fort Worth, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,691 in Fort Worth, TX – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Fort Worth, TX runs roughly 85% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.