CostIndexUSA

Fort Worth, TX vs Joplin, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Fort Worth
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Joplin
85.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Joplin is significantly cheaper than Fort Worth — 16.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Worth, you would need $66,500 in Joplin. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing54.2%
Fort Worth
117.9
Joplin
54
🛒 Groceries8.4%
Fort Worth
102.8
Joplin
94.2
🚗 Transportation6.7%
Fort Worth
104.7
Joplin
97.7
🏥 Healthcare6.7%
Fort Worth
94.7
Joplin
88.4
Utilities5.3%
Fort Worth
90.7
Joplin
85.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Joplin, MO
$66,500
$13,500 less needed in Joplin

Formula: salary × (85.7 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.8312. 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×

Joplin, MO

Median Home Price
$216,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
54
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.4×

Fort Worth has 54.2% lower housing costs compared to Joplin.

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

Joplin, MO

Median Household Income
$57,900
Per Capita Income
$33,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
50,843
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

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)

Joplin, MO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.