Cost of living in Dallas, TX

Livability score 67 · cost-of-living index 102.5 (US = 100)

How Dallas compares

Where Dallas falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Map of Dallas

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	102.5	metro-area	#160 of 200
Grocery index (US=100)	103.6	metro-area	#168 of 200
Big Mac price (est.)	$5.83	metro-area	#155 of 200
Median household income	$83,398	metro-area	#44 of 200
Median wage (all occupations)	$45,358	metro-area	#40 of 200

Who lives here

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median age	35.5 years	metro-area	#36 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)	38.5%	metro-area	#54 of 200
Foreign-born residents	19.0%	metro-area	#32 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied	60.0%	metro-area	#174 of 200

Economy

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Unemployment rate	4.62%	metro-area	#62 of 200
Population growth (5-yr)	+8.0%	metro-area	#42 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median home price	$366,823	metro-area	#118 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability)	4.4×	metro-area	#75 of 200
1-yr home appreciation	-3.3%	metro-area	#193 of 200
Price per square foot	$175	metro-area	#84 of 200
Typical home size (implied)	2,100 sqft
Median rent (monthly)	$1,678	metro-area	#111 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory)	34,548
Median days on market	24	metro-area	#137 of 200

Taxes

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)	8.6%	state	#9 of 200
Combined sales tax	8.20%	state	#116 of 200
State income tax (top rate)	None
Capital gains tax	None	state	#1 of 200
High earners	No special surtax
Social Security in retirement	Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate	1.76%	metro-area	#175 of 200
Median property tax paid	$5,266	metro-area	#182 of 200

Health & childcare

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Life expectancy at birth	77.9 years	metro-area	#67 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult)	$6,800	state	#93 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents)	17.7%	metro-area	#187 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k	65	metro-area	#152 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center)	$9,500	state	#37 of 200

Vehicles & commute

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Annual registration	$75	state	#46 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual)	None	state	#1 of 200
Emissions testing	Required
Emissions detail	Required in major metro counties (Travis, Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, etc.)
DMV & license offices	17
Avg commute to work	28 min	metro-area	#174 of 200
Commute by driving alone	71.3%	metro-area	#51 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min	44.7%	metro-area	#185 of 200

Utilities & fuel

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Electricity	17.0¢/kWh	state	#90 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill	$153	state	#90 of 200
Gasoline	$3.00/gal	state	#24 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)	$52	state	#23 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)	$134	state	#142 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill)	$83	state	#135 of 200

Insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Home insurance (annual)	$3,600	state	#164 of 200
Auto insurance (annual)	$2,100	state	#126 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Main natural hazards	Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)	96.5 — Relatively High	metro-area	#160 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)	$900	state	#152 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual)	$100	state	#1 of 200

Climate & air quality

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)	59	metro-area	#187 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load)	3,000	metro-area	#162 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state)	95%	state	#27 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load)	1,800	metro-area	#27 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F	97	metro-area	#182 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F	17	metro-area	#190 of 200
Avg summer high (state)	96°F	metro-area	#181 of 200
Avg winter low	38°F	metro-area	#46 of 200
Annual precipitation	38.3"	metro-area	#72 of 200
Annual snowfall	1.7"	metro-area	#70 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible)	61%	metro-area	#82 of 200
Plant hardiness zone	8b
Frost window	02-25 → 12-01

Safety

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)	430	state	#111 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)	2,400	state	#131 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Grocery stores	144	metro-area	#2 of 200
Parks	175
Hiking areas	29
Golf courses	58
Shooting ranges	17
Lakes	18

Permits

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)	2	state	#1 of 200
Permit detail	Generally easy; rural areas minimal, major cities moderate

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Dallas

Major public and private employers in the Dallas, TX area.

Employer	Sector	Jobs
AT&T	telecom	Careers →
Southwest Airlines	transportation	Careers →
JPMorgan Chase	Finance	Careers →
Bank of America	Finance	Careers →
McKesson	Healthcare	Careers →
Fluor	engineering	Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Dallas

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

Occupation	Median pay
Dentists	$186,010
Lawyers	$161,620
Financial Managers	$160,930
Pharmacists	$136,290
Marketing Managers	$136,000
Human Resources Managers	$133,400
Physician Assistants	$131,140
Software Developers	$129,490
Data Scientists	$108,870
Physical Therapists	$107,030
General & Operations Managers	$101,750
Construction Managers	$100,420
Mechanical Engineers	$99,490
Registered Nurses	$93,300
Web Developers	$93,200
Dental Hygienists	$92,310
Civil Engineers	$92,240
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$84,280
Accountants & Auditors	$79,840
Elementary School Teachers	$65,370
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$59,450
Graphic Designers	$57,690
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$56,420
Electricians	$55,370
Carpenters	$48,110
Welders, Cutters & Solderers	$47,910
Real Estate Sales Agents	$44,150
Medical Assistants	$39,240