Is Fort Worth cheaper than Los Angeles?

Fort Worth is 75% less expensive than Los Angeles based on the C2ER Cost of Living Index. Fort Worth has a COL index of 93 vs 163 for Los Angeles.

What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match $100,000 in Fort Worth?

To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Fort Worth, you would need approximately $202,000 in Los Angeles. This accounts for both the cost of living difference and state income tax rates (Fort Worth: no state tax, Los Angeles: 9.3% state tax).

Fort Worth vs Los Angeles
Cost of Living (2026)

Fort Worth is 75% less expensive than Los Angeles. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

Fort Worth, TX

COL index93 ✓

State income taxNone ✓

Avg 1BR rent$1,280/mo ✓

Median home price$315K ✓

Los Angeles, CA

COL index163

State income tax9.3%

Avg 1BR rent$2,600/mo

Median home price$850K

Cost breakdown by category

Category	Fort Worth index	Los Angeles index	Difference
Housing	121 ✓	215	+94%
Groceries	89 ✓	153	+64%
Transportation	90 ✓	151	+61%
Healthcare	90 ✓	157	+67%
Utilities	91 ✓	145	+54%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Fort Worth → Los Angeles

What salary in Los Angeles gives you the same purchasing power as your Fort Worth salary?

Salary in Fort Worth	Equivalent in Los Angeles	Difference
$60,000	$121,000	+$61,000
$80,000	$162,000	+$82,000
$100,000	$202,000	+$102,000
$130,000	$263,000	+$133,000
$150,000	$303,000	+$153,000
$200,000	$404,000	+$204,000

Fort Worth vs Los Angeles: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Fort Worth, TX and Los Angeles, CA, Fort Worth comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 93 versus 163 for Los Angeles — a difference of approximately 75%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving Fort Worth workers an immediate 9.3% take-home pay advantage over Los Angeles workers who pay California's 9.3% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Fort Worth is $315,000, compared to $850,000 in Los Angeles. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,280/month in Fort Worth versus $2,600/month in Los Angeles.

Fort Worth vs Houston →Fort Worth vs San Antonio →Fort Worth vs Dallas →Fort Worth vs Austin →Fort Worth vs El Paso →Fort Worth vs Arlington →

Fort Worth vs Los AngelesCost of Living (2026)