Cost of living in Dallas research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Dallas is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Texas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Dallas is 106, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Dallas is 1.1x higher than the national average.
Dallas ranks as the #284 cheapest in Texas out of 414.
Dallas ranks as the #3,278 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Dallas is $304,348.
The median income in Dallas is $67,760.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dallas has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, Dallas has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Texas's index of 92.
The standard of living in Dallas ranks as #284 most affordable out of the 414 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies Dallas ranks as the #130 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in Dallas, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dallas. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dallas is 106.
The Groceries index in Dallas is 98.
The Health index in Dallas is 106.
The Housing index in Dallas is 114.
The Transportation index in Dallas is 89.
The Utilities index in Dallas is 110.
| Living Expense | Dallas | Texas | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 92 | 100 | |
| Services | 106 | 97 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 106 | 93 | 100 | |
| Housing | 114 | 82 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 89 | 94 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 110 | 104 | 100 | |
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Texas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dallas is $304,348.
The Median Rent in Dallas is $1,403.
The Median Income in Dallas is $67,760.
The Home Value To Income in Dallas is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dallas is 0.25x.
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dallas. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plano, TX has a cost of living index of 129, 1.2x Dallas.
Garland, TX has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Dallas.
Mesquite, TX has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Dallas.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano, TX | 287,339 | 129 | 1.2x |
| Garland, TX | 245,298 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Mesquite, TX | 148,848 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Carrollton, TX | 132,741 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Richardson, TX | 118,269 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Rowlett, TX | 64,139 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Euless, TX | 60,373 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Coppell, TX | 42,029 | 135 | 1.3x |
| Farmers Branch, TX | 36,254 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Sachse, TX | 29,075 | 122 | 1.2x |