Cost of Living in Dallas, TX

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.

Price level
103.1
U.S. average = 100 · #48 of 387
Median wage
$51,440
all jobs · $3,626/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,586
HUD fair market rent

Salary comparison calculator

What would you need to earn in Dallas, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?

Cost of living calculator

Uses BEA price levels plus 2026 federal and state taxes in each city's state.

Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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    Prices in Dallas, TX vs. the U.S. average

    CategoryIndex (U.S. = 100)Difference
    All items103.1+3.1%
    Housing117.9+17.9%
    Goods102.8+2.8%
    Utilities90.7−9.3%
    Other services99.7−0.3%

    Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

    Rent in Dallas, TX

    UnitMonthly rentIncome needed (30% rule)
    Studio$1,526$61,040/yr
    1 bedroom$1,586$63,440/yr
    2 bedrooms$1,858$74,320/yr
    3 bedrooms$2,374$94,960/yr
    4 bedrooms$2,993$119,720/yr

    HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.

    Take-home pay in Dallas, TX

    Paycheck in Dallas, TX
    Deductions, kids & local tax

    2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

    Your take-home pay
    $43,512
    per year · effective tax rate 15.4%
    $3,626Monthly
    $1,813Twice a month
    $1,674Every 2 weeks
    $20.92Hourly
    • Federal income tax$3,993
    • Social Security (6.2%)$3,189
    • Medicare (1.45%)$746
    • Texas income tax$0
    • Take-home pay$43,512

    Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

    Highest-paying jobs in Dallas, TX

    JobMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
    Surgeons, All Other$239,200+$337,219$327,111
    Cardiologist$239,200+$279,919$271,529
    Obstetrician and Gynecologist$239,200+$228,496$221,647
    Chief Executive$239,200+$227,744$220,918
    Physicians, Pathologists$239,200+$225,295$218,542
    General Internal Medicine Physician$239,200+$200,467$194,458
    Family Medicine Physician$239,200+$189,294$183,620
    Physicians, All Other$222,410$165,069$160,121
    Nurse Anesthetist$218,650$162,601$157,727
    Anesthesiologist$218,060$162,213$157,351
    Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$212,810$158,362$153,615
    Air Traffic Controller$186,510$138,870$134,708
    Dentists, General$179,990$134,289$130,264
    Computer and Information Systems Manager$173,810$130,065$126,167
    Architectural and Engineering Manager$172,160$128,937$125,073
    Financial Manager$169,200$126,914$123,110
    Petroleum Engineer$168,600$126,504$122,712
    Lawyer$168,510$126,443$122,653
    Computer Hardware Engineer$162,870$122,588$118,913
    Commercial Pilot$160,160$120,735$117,116

    *In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Dallas, TX expensive to live in?

    According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area are 103.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 117.9%. It is the #48 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.

    What salary do you need to live in Dallas, TX?

    To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $61,854 in Dallas, TX (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,440.

    How much is rent in Dallas, TX?

    HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Dallas, TX are $1,526 for a studio, $1,586 for one bedroom, $1,858 for two bedrooms and $2,374 for three bedrooms, including utilities.

    All salaries in Dallas, TX

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