City Comparison

Bellevue vs Fort Worth

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bellevue

Washington
158
Very Expensive
$1.3M
Median Home
$2,525/mo
Median Rent
$169,200
Median Income

Fort Worth

Texas
95
Below Average
$270,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$62,187
Median Income

The Verdict

66.3%

Fort Worth is 66.3% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $45,095 in Fort Worth to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
249
Bellevue
87
Fort Worth
Groceries
111
Bellevue
96
Fort Worth
Utilities
100
Bellevue
99
Fort Worth
Transportation
134
Bellevue
106
Fort Worth
Healthcare
120
Bellevue
100
Fort Worth

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $45,095 in Fort Worth.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Worth equals $124,737 in Bellevue.

Living in Bellevue vs Fort Worth

Housing Costs

Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Fort Worth's 87, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $270,000. The $1.0M difference in home prices means roughly $67,020 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,400/mo in Fort Worth, a monthly difference of $1,125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 96 in Fort Worth. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $456/month in Fort Worth. Fort Worth offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 99 in Fort Worth. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $396 in Fort Worth. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 100 in Fort Worth. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $62,187 in Fort Worth. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $65,460 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,451/month in Fort Worth. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Worth, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 162 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Worth is 66.3% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 158.
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $45,095 in Fort Worth, based on the cost of living difference.
Bellevue's housing index is 249 with median homes at $1.3M, while Fort Worth's is 87 with median homes at $270,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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