| Index | Dallas | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 107 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 105 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 105 | 98 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Dallas? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Dallas stands at 107, making it 7% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Dallas are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Dallas can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 32 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Dallas. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 34% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 66% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Dallas an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Dallas is 16.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 16.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Dallas has a median household income of $82,096, which is 0.9% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Dallas, the groceries index is 0.7% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Dallas starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 0%.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Dallas, healthcare costs are 1.6% higher than the national average.
The Dallas cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $114,964 | $9,580 | $2,682 | $3,449 |
| Renters | $66,059 | $5,505 | $1,541 | $1,982 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mesquite CDP, TX | 647 | 81 | 18.9% |
| Horseshoe Bend, TX | 641 | 83 | 16.7% |
| Wilmer, TX | 4,836 | 86 | 13.7% |
| Hutchins, TX | 5,962 | 88 | 12.2% |
| Cockrell Hill, TX | 4,306 | 92 | 7.9% |
| Dallas, TX | 1,391,819 | 107 | 7.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Calgary, AB | 1,371,990 | n/a | |
| San Diego, CA | 1,466,871 | 176 | 76.0% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,573,237 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,632,157 | 102 | 2.0% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,698,457 | 113 | 12.9% |
| Dallas, TX | 1,391,819 | 107 | 7.0% |
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