Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Fort Worth, Texas

This is an image detailing the skyline of Fort Worth, Texas.
Photo by Neuwieser via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Fort Worth costs

A large-city budget needs the neighborhood, cooling, water, insurance, traffic, and care visible

The catalog's 2024 ACS gross-rent anchors are $1,252 for one bedroom and $1,483 for two bedrooms, with a modeled local monthly estimate of $3,212. Census reports a $1,509 median gross rent, a $303,000 median owner-occupied value, and $2,188 in median monthly owner costs with a mortgage for 2020 to 2024. Fort Worth Water publishes current rate components, and Texas has no state income tax.

Request current rent or purchase terms, property taxes, insurance, utilities, cooling, roof and drainage records, flood information, parking, vehicle costs, internet, and the hospital and grocery route. A lower housing figure can be offset by traffic, cooling, insurance, repairs, or distance.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $3,212 gives you the starting point, with housing taking the largest share.

Housing
$1,252
Utilities (in rent)
$252
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$4,579

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,656

Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$1,252

Very Good

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$235/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
High
Overall Feel
Moderate
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
11.0%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
29.3%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
41.1%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$56,342

Could Fort Worth fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$3,212 per month
Two people
$4,656 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$1,252
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Fort Worth in everyday life

Could Fort Worth work for you?

What may work well

  • Census, city water, and city budget sources supply identifiable planning anchors.
  • Major hospitals, parks, libraries, rail, and nature destinations provide concrete weekly resources.

What to think about

  • The citywide medians are not a personal retirement budget.
  • Cooling, insurance, traffic, water, vehicle use, roof work, flood exposure, and regional care can change the total substantially.

Price a Fort Worth household

  1. Compare several neighborhoods

    Keep housing, taxes, insurance, utilities, cooling, parking, traffic, vehicle, flood, repairs, and care distance visible.

  2. Map recurring care

    Price JPS, Texas Health, Medical City, specialists, pharmacy, groceries, transit, fuel, parking, and aftercare.

  3. Reserve for heat and storms

    Keep room for cooling, roof work, drainage, trees, power, insurance, water, storm travel, and a ride after difficult weather.

Questions retirees ask

Are the Fort Worth rent figures the full budget?

No. They are Census planning anchors. Add taxes, insurance, water, cooling, utilities, maintenance, transport, care, food, parking, and the cost of the chosen neighborhood.

Why do Fort Worth homes have different budgets?

Neighborhood, insurance, cooling, traffic, parking, water, flood exposure, roof age, transit, vehicle use, and care distance vary by address.

Fort Worth affordability depends on the actual neighborhood, cooling, insurance, traffic, water, transport, care, and the services used each week.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.