CostIndexUSA

Fort Worth, TX vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Fort Worth
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Iowa City is moderately cheaper than Fort Worth — 11.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Worth, you would need $71,000 in Iowa City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing28.8%
Fort Worth
117.9
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries8.9%
Fort Worth
102.8
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation6.8%
Fort Worth
104.7
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare6.8%
Fort Worth
94.7
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities7.7%
Fort Worth
90.7
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Worth to see what you'd need to earn in Iowa City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$71,000
$9,000 less needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.8875. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Worth, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Fort Worth has 28.8% lower housing costs compared to Iowa City.

Income & Job Market

Fort Worth, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
918,915
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsFinance

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Worth, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.