Fort Worth began life in 1849 as an army outpost. Today, this former frontier outpost is one of the fast-growing cities in the States. It embraces its western heritage and architecture while being known for its cultural excellence and technological prowess.
If you are considering moving to Fort Worth, or the greater Dallas area, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this Texan city.
Quick Fort Worth Facts:
- Population: 833,319 (2015)
- Official Language: English (de facto) with at least 40 other languages being spoken, including Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Mandarin and Vietnamese.
- GDP Per Capita: $55,263 USD
- President J. F Kennedy: On 22nd November 1963 President Kennedy gave his last public speech at a Fort Worth Chamber breakfast before leaving for Dallas.
- Currency: US Dollar (US$). As of early 2017, £1 = $1.25, €1 = $1.08, $1 CAD = $0.75, $1 AUD = $0.77
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Fort Worth
Below are some sample container shipping costs to Fort Worth from other major world cities. Just keep in mind they only reflect the shipping portion of the cost and not the full moving costs.
- New York City – $364+
- Los Angeles – $392+
- Canada (Vancouver) – $1,170+
- UK (London) – $1,731+
- Australia (Sydney) – $2,493+
- Ireland (Dublin) – $1,897+
- New Zealand (Auckland) – $2,965+
- Hong Kong – $1,506+
- Dubai – $2,831+
- Singapore – $3,267+
You can save money by comparing moving companies using our moving quote form above.
2. Fort Worth Housing Costs
The cost of living in Fort Worth is 14% below the national average. This makes buying and renting property more affordable in this city than many others. There is a good selection of apartments, town houses, family homes and even ranches to choose from.
Monthly Rental Prices in Fort Worth
- 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: $645+
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: $500+
- 3 bedroom apartment in City Centre: $1,500+
- 3 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: $1,000+
Fort Worth Home Purchase Prices
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: $1,812.52
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: $1,295.02
Fort Worth Housing Cost Comparison
This is how rents in Fort Worth compare with other cities around the globe.
London is 101.50% more expensive
New York 184.93% more expensive
Los Angeles is 91.92% more expensive
Toronto is 14.44% more expensive
Sydney is 87.90% more expensive
Paris is 21.86% more expensive
Dubai is 107.95% more expensive
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share a house or apartment: Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect roommate: Easyroommate, Spareroom, Facebook, and Metro Roommates.
- Different areas – different prices. The North and Far North areas of Fort Worth are in the process of being upgraded and are attracting people from all walks of life. The leafy suburb of Oakhurst, with its 1920s houses and bungalows, sitting on large plots, is often voted the best place to live in the city and is very affordable. The Far North is full of new apartments blocks, houses, shopping malls and entertainment centres. The Near Southside community is more bohemian and suits the arty set. It’s affordable but, as its popularity grows so do its prices. East Fort Worth also has very affordable housing and is ideal for those commuting to Dallas or Arlington.
3. Fort Worth Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
Texans enjoy their food. You will find it all here, from Texan steakhouses to Mexican eateries. There are also the usual takeouts as well as restaurants for those who enjoy the fine dining experience.
- Inexpensive Restaurant: $10 – $15
- Takeout Coffee: $3.00 – $5.00
- Bottle of Coke: $1.20 – $2.50
- 1L of milk: $0.39 – $0.83
- Loaf of Bread: $1.10 – $2.76
- 12 Eggs: $1.49 – $3.00
- 1kg Chicken: $4.39 – $13.23
- 1kg Beef: $8.82 – $15.43
- 1kg Apples: $2.20 – $5.71
- 1kg White Rice: $2.18 – $4.41
This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.
- London restaurants are 38.37% more expensive and groceries are 13.75% cheaper than Fort Worth.
- New York restaurants are 52.38% more expensive and groceries are 42.11% more expensive than Fort Worth.
- Los Angeles restaurants are 24.72% more expensive and groceries are 8.83% more expensive than Fort Worth.
- Toronto restaurants are 0.74% more expensive and groceries are 9.30% cheaper than Fort Worth.
- Sydney restaurants are 12.78% more expensive and groceries are 14.31% more expensive than Fort Worth.
- Paris restaurants are 21.86% more expensive and groceries are 8.91% more expensive than Fort Worth.
- Dubai restaurants are 1.12% cheaper and groceries are 16.79% cheaper than Fort Worth.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: Fort Worth has independently owned grocery stores as well as the usual supermarket chains. It also has a good selection of farmers’ markets and organic food shops. Popular and affordable supermarkets in Fort Worth are Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, El Rio Grande, Winco (good for bulk buying) and Fiestamart.
- Find Cheap Eats: There are many restaurants in Fort Worth where you can eat relatively cheaply. Even some of the fine dining restaurants offer affordable specials on certain days of the week. Have a look at the following websites to find some excellent food at affordable prices – TripAdvisor, Yelp, Fort Worth – Where to Eat, Zagat and Four Square.
4. Fort Worth Alcohol Costs
Texans are known for their hospitality. Fort Worth has lots of bars and clubs ready to welcome you in true Texan style.
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $2.00 – $5.00
- Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: $4.00 – $6.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: $1.50 – $2.50
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: $2.00 – $3.00
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: $7.00 – $15.00
How to drink for less in Fort Worth
- Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
- Try Barcadia’s which has $3 wells every day plus other specials. The Boiled Owl Tavern is famous for its craft beers and Led Zeppelin. It is has regular specials on wells and draws in people from all walks of life. Just in case you don’t know what ‘wells’ are, they are any drink prepared with liquor deemed by a particular bar as “wells”. All bars have different brands of “wells liquor”. Usually this is their cheapest liquor and is used in most drinks unless a specific brand of liquor is “called” (requested). The following websites will give you ideas and inspiration for great night’s out on a budget – Four Square, Yelp, Bars on a Budget, Guide Live and The Happy Hour Finder.
5. Fort Worth Transportation Fares
Fort Worth’s public transportation system is run by The T. There are busses and commuter trains to get you in and out of the city. Note that the last bus goes at midnight from Monday to Saturday and at 10 p.m. on Sundays. Many people commute by train from Fort Worth to Dallas and Arlington; the journey takes around a hour.
Here are some example ticket costs.
- Adult Single Bus – $1.75
- One day ticket – $3.50
- Monthly season ticket, unlimited – $90
How to save money on public transport
- Buy a Regional ticket for $10 – all day train, trolley and bus
- Buy a Monthly Regional for $30 – all day train, trolley and bus
- Buy a bike. Fort Worth is very bike friendly. Most of the restaurants and bars have special bike stands.
- If you live relatively close to where you work, try walking.
6. Cost of Internet in Fort Worth
- Time Warner Spectrum: From $44.99/mo for 100 mbps.
- AT&T: From $40.00/mo for 45 mbps
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
Fort Worth has hot summers and cold winters. The hottest month is July, with an average high of 97°F (36°C) and the coldest is January with an average low of 36°F (2°C). May is the wettest month in Fort Worth with an average rainfall of 140mm.
Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans: $30 – $60
- Summer Dress: $20 – $60
- Running Shoes (Trainers): $55 – $89
- Business Shoes: $80 – $125
- Short Doctor’s visit (15 mins): $62
- Deodorant: $3.25
- Shampoo: $3.87
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): $2.62
- Gym membership: $21.70-$36 per month
- Movie (cinema) ticket: $8-$11
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Fort Worth
People do use their cars to get to and from work and this causes the usual rush hour traffic jams. However, apparently, they are nowhere near as bad as the jams in Dallas.
If you’re moving to Fort Worth from within the US, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new one.
You can drive on a foreign license for up to 12 months as a tourist but after that you will need to get an American license. If you are working or studying in the US, you can drive on your foreign license for 30 days. If you want to exchange your foreign driver’s license you have to follow the process here.
Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Fort Worth:
- Volkswagen Golf:$20,175
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):$0.54
- Other fees (if any): The average cost of state and local taxes, license, title and registration fees is $665 per annum
Source: Expatistan, AAA Study
Ways to save money driving in Fort Worth
- Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Car Pool World, eRideshare, The T and Dart.
- Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber and Lyft.
Need your car/vehicle moved to Fort Worth? Then read our guide to: Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping
9. Taxes in Fort Worth
No matter where you live in Texas, you will pay state and federal taxes. To learn more about the different taxes in the States go to Immihelp and USA taxes.
Sales Tax in Fort Worth is 8.25% and is added to most goods and services. Generally, the price you see on an item does not include sales tax.
If you own your home, you will be subject to property tax based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Learn more about property tax in Fort Worth at Property Tax.
Finally, if you decide to buy an apartment or house in Fort Worth, you will be relieved to know that there is no real estate transfer tax in Texas
10. Flight Costs from Fort Worth
If you do make the move to Fort Worth, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2017:
- London: $287
- New York: $64
- Los Angeles: $57
- Toronto: $161
- Vancouver: $116
- Dubai: $474
- Sydney: $574
- Melbourne: $598
- Cape Town: $843
- Hong Kong: $450
Other Tips on Moving to Fort Worth
The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Fort Worth but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Moving to Fort Worth Alone
Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be particularly daunting. Here are a few tips about relocating and settling in Fort Worth.
- Meetups: Fort Worth has many Meetup groups covering a wide range of activities from car maintenance to painting.
- Attend local events: There is always something going on in Fort Worth and many of the activities are free. Have a look at these sites to get inspiration on what to do during your free time – TripAdvisor, FortWorth.com and Vacation Ideas.
12. Moving to Fort Worth with a Family
Fort Worth has a lot to offer families from its great arts scene to its historical sites and places such as the zoo, the botanical gardens and museums.
- New parents (or parents to be):Check out DFW Child and New Parents for advice, courses and ways to meet other parents or parents to be.
- Live in a family friendly area: Fort Worth is one of the US’s safest cities. The best areas for families are considered to be Wedgwood, Crestwood, Fairmount, TCU- West Cliff, Oak Grove and Arlington Heights (Family Friendly).
- Find things to do with the kids: Here are some ideas of where to go with kids – Motovo, Family Days Out and Yelp.
13. Moving to Fort Worth for Work
Moving for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
Fort Worth is known for the aerospace industry but there is a lot more to the job market than that. There are opportunities in education, airlines, health, IT, service industry and much more.
Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary:The cost of living in Fort Worth is relatively low compared with the rest of the States. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea, how much more you’ll want to be making to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
- How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Fort Worth, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start:Monster, Indeed, Snag a Job, Craigs List and Career Builder. You may also want to google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.
14. Moving to Fort Worth from Australia
There is a small Aussie contingent living in the Fort Worth/Dallas area. If you are thinking of moving from Australia to Fort Worth, here are a few things to consider.
- Size comparison: If you compare the population size of Fort Worth with a city in Australia, then the closest midway between the Gold Coast and Adelaide
- Join expat groups:Meetup and InterNations offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Fort Worth.
15. Moving to Fort Worth from Canada
Fort Worth and Dallas attract many Canadians, so if you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.
- Size: If you look at the population of Fort Worth, the city in Canadian which is nearest to it, is Quebec City.
- Expat groups: Meeting up with fellow Canadians helps the moving process. Link up through sites such as Internations and Meetup.
16. Moving to Fort Worth from the United Kingdom
There are a small number of Brits living in Fort Worth so if you’re considering joining them, here are a few bonus tips:
- Size: Looking at population size, Fort Worth sits in between Birmingham and Leeds.
- Expat groups: If you want to get together with others from the UK who are experiencing the Texan way of life, then go to Internations and MeetUp.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to New York you can start by comparing moving quotes here.
Guides to other cities in Texas:
Guides to moving and living in other American cities