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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Fort Worth proves it with a cost index of 98, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Fort Worth proves it with a cost index of 98, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
A closer look at Fort Worth: the cost index of 98 breaks down to a Utilities index of 90 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 101 (weakest). Median rent is $1,554/month — 18% below the national median — while household income sits at $76,602, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Fort Worth (index 98 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — , rent $1,554); Denver (index 113, rent $1,818). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
In plain English: What's equally notable: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112 — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — , rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. Not many cities can claim this (more on that below).
Bottom line: Fort Worth, TX leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And generally speaking, click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Fort Worth, TX — cost index 98, rent $1,554/mo, income $76,602
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort WorthTX | 98 | $1,554 | Details |
| 2 | DenverCO | 113 | $1,818 | Details |
978,468 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in Fort Worth? Start with the 24% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 90) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 101) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $76,602 and homes at $295,822 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
716,577 residents · Colorado
Denver earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 113 cost index sits 1 points above the national baseline, and the $91,681 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $530,920 — $63,550 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 104, while Housing trails at 133 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Fort Worth (ranked #1) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,554/mo, while Denver (ranked #2) has a cost index of 113 and rent of $1,818/mo — a 15-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Fort Worth is $1,554/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $341 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Fort Worth is $295,822, which is 3.9× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.