Cost of living in Dallas: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Dallas sits 3.1% above the US average. BEA's regional price parity (RPP) for 2024 gives the metro area of Dallas, TX a figure of 103.1. The US stands at 100, and housing on its own at 117.9.
- Level of prices
- 103.1US = 100, BEA 2024
- Level of housing prices
- 117.9 for rents, with US = 100.
Cost of living index for Dallas
A regional price parity compares the cost of an identical basket of goods and services in a given place with the US average. That average is set at 100. Dallas is in the metro area called Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, and BEA prices it as one region. Housing (rents) sits farthest from the US average: 117.9, or 17.9% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Dallas, TX metro | Texas | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.1 | 97.1 | +3.1% |
| Goods | 102.8 | 98.1 | +2.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 117.9 | 96.5 | +17.9% |
| Utilities | 90.7 | 87.5 | −9.3% |
| Other services | 99.7 | 97.1 | −0.3% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024 regional price parities, broken down by metro area and state. BEA price parity data
Rents in Dallas
Asking rent in Dallas typically runs $1,604 a month, up +1.0% on a year. That figure comes from ZORI, the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which tracks rent on homes listed now. Across the US, the figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $1,599, and it counts every renting household, not only new leases. Twelve months of the asking rent equals 26% of the median household income.
| Rent | Dallas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,604 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.0% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,599 | $1,487 |
| Share of median income, one year of asking rent | 26% | 28% |
Sources: Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
Dallas home prices
A typical home in Dallas had a value of $303,442 in September 2026, according to the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), which measures values in the middle of the market. That figure is −1.4% on a year, compared with $366,157 for the US. That equals 4.1 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Dallas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $303,442 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −1.4% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +77.3% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 15.8 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast and a price chart since 2000: Dallas housing market.
Dallas: the salary needed to live there
The salary in Dallas that matches what your pay buys today depends on two things: the place you live and the amount you earn.
- Moving away from
- Salary
The method, plus how each city compares side by side: city cost of living.
Moving to Dallas? Compare moving quotes on Moving.com, a mover-quote service; we are not paid for this link.
Dallas cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rents | Typical value of a home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 103.1 | 117.9 | $1,604 | $303,442 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| Austin | 98.1 | 120.4 | $1,571 | $491,960 |
| El Paso | 89.9 | 71.2 | $1,508 | $237,556 |
| Corpus Christi | 92.7 | 84.9 | $1,422 | $222,115 |
| Lubbock | 91.3 | 76.4 | $1,315 | $210,957 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. Rent comes from Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Every city ranked: city cost of living comparison. Every state: cost of living in each state.