Dallas Cost of Living (2026)
Dallas’s cost of living is roughly 2% above the U.S. average: housing runs about 11% below the national norm, but higher property taxes and utilities offset much of that advantage.
COL index (US avg = 100)
102
Median home value
$410,000
Median 1-BR rent
$1,355/mo
Effective property tax
~2.2% combined (before exemptions)
Dallas cost of living vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Dallas index | U.S. average | Difference | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 100 | +2% | 2% above U.S. average |
| Housing | 89 | 100 | -11% | 11% below average |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | -2% | near average |
| Utilities | 113 | 100 | +13% | 13% above average — a real cost driver |
| Transportation | 89 | 100 | -11% | below average |
| Healthcare | 101 | 100 | +1% | near average |
Index base: 100 = U.S. national average. A value of 94 means ~6% below the national average.
Sources & methodology
- COL composite index: C2ER / BLS / BEA regional price parities (2024–2025), base 100 = U.S. average (source)
- Property tax: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts + Dallas County Appraisal District (2025) (source)
- Median home value: U.S. Census ACS 2024 + NTREIS (North Texas Real Estate) market data
- Median rent: Zumper 1BR median, April 2026 (RentCafe Q1 2026 1BR average shown for comparison)
- Comfortable salary (~$97,000): MIT Living Wage for one adult in Dallas County ($48,489 before taxes, updated Feb 15, 2026) doubled under SmartAsset’s 50/30/20 "comfortable" method
Figures accessed May 2026. Cost-of-living estimates vary by source and household; use the calculator below for your own income and city pair.
Compare Dallas to your current city
Cost of Living Comparison
Compare how far your dollar goes between cities. Index of 100 = national average.
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Texas’s zero state income tax flatters every number on this page, while Dallas County’s property-tax bill claws part of it back. If you’re weighing the trade, our statewide study shows when the no-income-tax math actually breaks even — by the state you’re moving from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dallas expensive to live in?
Dallas sits close to the U.S. average — its composite cost-of-living index is about 102 (base 100), so roughly 2% above average. Housing is actually about 11% below the national norm (city of Dallas median sale price around $410,000 per Redfin, February 2026; median 1-bedroom rent $1,355/mo per Zumper, April 2026), but higher property taxes (~2.2% combined, before exemptions, in Dallas County) and utilities about 13% above average offset much of that.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Dallas?
It depends on what "comfortably" means. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator puts the bare-needs income for one adult with no children in Dallas County at $48,489 a year before taxes (updated February 15, 2026). SmartAsset’s method treats that living wage as the needs half of a 50/30/20 budget, which doubles it to about $97,000 a year for one adult (our calculation), the comfortable figure our salary guide uses. Texas has no state income tax, so your take-home pay goes further than the same gross salary in a state with income tax.
Why are utilities so high in Dallas?
Dallas utilities run about 13% above the U.S. average, driven mainly by summer cooling demand and the deregulated Texas electricity market, where rates vary widely by plan. Shopping the Power to Choose marketplace and locking a fixed rate can materially lower the bill.
Is Dallas or Houston cheaper?
Houston is cheaper overall. Dallas’s composite index is about 102 versus Houston at about 94 — roughly an 8% gap, mostly from cheaper Houston housing and lower utilities. See our Houston vs. Dallas cost-of-living comparison for the full category breakdown.