Phoenix, AZ vs Fort Worth, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fort Worth, TX has a modeled overall cost index 2.1% lower than Phoenix, AZ.

Phoenix, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $1,750 / month
Fort Worth, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,620 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Phoenix, AZ and Fort Worth, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Phoenix, AZ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $400/month in Fort Worth, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,195 in Fort Worth, TX

Regional cost estimates: Phoenix, AZ uses Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metropolitan Area. Fort Worth, TX uses Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$400

Savings

Annual Impact

$4.8K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Phoenix, AZ

Population:1608K

Cost Index:

103.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$414K

Fort Worth, TX

Population:919K

Cost Index:

101.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$263K

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Phoenix, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

1.6M

Population

State Tax

Yes

Climate

Hot desert

Notable Facts

•Fastest growing major city
•Desert metropolis
•Spring training capital

Major Industries

TechnologyHealthcareTourismManufacturing

Fort Worth, TX

The Lone Star State

919K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 919K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Phoenix, AZ vs Fort Worth, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Phoenix, AZ	Fort Worth, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,592/mo	$2,223/mo	↓ $370less	14.3%
Transportation	$1,384/mo	$1,206/mo	↓ $178less	12.8%
Other	$1,559/mo	$1,650/mo	↑ $90.26more	5.8%
Healthcare	$547/mo	$587/mo	↑ $40.32more	7.4%
Groceries	$895/mo	$910/mo	↑ $14.86more	1.7%
All Utilities	$522/mo	$523/mo	↑ $1.52more	0.3%

Housing

↓ 14.3%

Phoenix, AZ

$2,592

Fort Worth, TX

$2,223

Difference

$370

less

Transportation

↓ 12.8%

Phoenix, AZ

$1,384

Fort Worth, TX

$1,206

Difference

$178

less

Other

↑ 5.8%

Phoenix, AZ

$1,559

Fort Worth, TX

$1,650

Difference

$90.26

Healthcare

↑ 7.4%

Phoenix, AZ

$547

Fort Worth, TX

$587

Difference

$40.32

Groceries

↑ 1.7%

Phoenix, AZ

$895

Fort Worth, TX

$910

Difference

$14.86

All Utilities

↑ 0.3%

Phoenix, AZ

$522

Fort Worth, TX

$523

Difference

$1.52

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,390

To$1,340

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,510

To$1,390

↓ $120

2 Bed

From$1,750

To$1,620

↓ $130

3 Bed

From$2,330

To$2,140

↓ $190

Phoenix, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$2,380/mo

Fort Worth, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$2,210/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Phoenix, AZ

$7,100

Monthly in Fort Worth, TX

$400

Difference

Home Values

Phoenix

Fort Worth

$414K

Median Value

$263K

↓ -3.1%

YoY Change

↓ -3.7%

↑ +30.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +27.5%

$274K - $957K

Price Range

$161K - $673K

Homes in Fort Worth are 37% less expensive than Phoenix

Calculate payment - Phoenix Calculate payment - Fort Worth

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $5.2K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$436

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.5%

Rate difference

Phoenix, AZ

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Arizona State Tax

Effective: 3.5%

$5.2K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 28.2%

$42.2K

Take-Home Pay

$8,979/month

$107.8K

Fort Worth, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Phoenix, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%

Property Tax:0.6%

Fort Worth, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Phoenix, AZ

26/100

0.9% sidewalk tags · 5.8% cycling tags

Fort Worth, TX: No data yet

Environment

Phoenix

Fort Worth

77 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

Good Air Days

35.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

99 High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

162 days

Heat Days >95°F

94 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

162 days

Heat Days >95°F

94 days

Before moving from Phoenix, AZ to Fort Worth, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fort Worth, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Phoenix, AZ. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Phoenix to Fort Worth moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fort Worth, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Phoenix, AZ vs Fort Worth, TX

How do the cost estimates for Phoenix, AZ and Fort Worth, TX compare?

Fort Worth, TX has a modeled overall cost index 2.1% lower than Phoenix, AZ. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Phoenix, AZ, the model estimates $145,195 in Fort Worth, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Phoenix, AZ and Fort Worth, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,750/month in Phoenix, AZ and $1,620/month in Fort Worth, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Arizona and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com