Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Fort Worth compared to El Paso? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Fort Worth | Metric | El Paso | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Cost of Living Index | 84 | -15.2% |
| $330,000 | Median Home Price | $195,000 | -40.9% |
| $1,354 | Median Monthly Rent | $745 | -45.0% |
| $66,200 | Median Household Income | $48,000 | -27.5% |
| 1.8% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 3.9% | Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | +20.5% |
| 27 min | Average Commute | 24 min | -11.1% |
| 33.9 | Median Age | 32.1 | -5.3% |
| 960,000 | Metro Population | 870,000 | -9.4% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Fort Worth costs $2,260/month (PITI) compared to $1,335/month in El Paso — a difference of $925/month or $11,100/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.0x in Fort Worth versus 4.1x in El Paso, suggesting El Paso is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 6.6 years to save a down payment in Fort Worth compared to 5.4 years in El Paso.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Fort Worth | El Paso |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $66,200 | $48,000 |
| State Income Tax | None | None |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,013 | $3,631 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,064 | $3,672 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $5,940/yr | $3,510/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $11,077 (16.7%) | $7,303 (15.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $55,123 | $40,697 |
Texas has no state income tax, giving Fort Worth residents a significant tax advantage. On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $11,077 in Fort Worth (16.7% effective) versus $7,303 in El Paso (15.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $55,123 in Fort Worth and $40,697 in El Paso. Property taxes add $5,940/year on the median Fort Worth home versus $3,510/year in El Paso.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $66,200 in Fort Worth (COL 99) and relocate to El Paso (COL 84), you would need $56,170 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $10,030 and still maintain your lifestyle in El Paso.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Fort Worth is 27 minutes versus 24 minutes in El Paso, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Fort Worth's lower unemployment rate of 3.9% versus 4.7% suggests a stronger job market. Fort Worth skews slightly older with a median age of 33.9 vs 32.1 in El Paso.
Fort Worth is 15.2% more expensive than El Paso overall. Fort Worth has a cost of living index of 99 compared to 84 for El Paso (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $330,000 in Fort Worth vs $195,000 in El Paso.
The median home price in Fort Worth is $330,000, which is $135,000 more than El Paso's median of $195,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,354/month in Fort Worth vs $745/month in El Paso, a difference of $609/month or $7,308/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $66,200 salary in Fort Worth is equivalent to $56,170 in El Paso. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Fort Worth's COL index of 99 vs El Paso's 84. Conversely, $48,000 in El Paso equals $56,571 in Fort Worth.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $11,077 (16.7% effective rate) in Fort Worth vs $7,303 (15.2% effective rate) in El Paso. Property taxes on the median home are $5,940/year in Fort Worth (1.8% rate) vs $3,510/year in El Paso (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Texas and 6.3% in Texas.
Fort Worth median household income: $66,200/yr. El Paso median household income: $48,000/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,354 in Fort Worth vs $745 in El Paso. Annualized that is $16,248 vs $8,940.
El Paso offers a lower cost of living (index 84 vs 99), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Fort Worth typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Fort Worth and El Paso numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Fort Worth vs El Paso cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .