City comparison
Boston vs Dallas Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and Dallas (110.6).
Boston Index
144.3
Dallas Index
110.6
Boston Rent
$3,775
Dallas Rent
$2,400
Boston Home price
$722,000
Dallas Home price
$414,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Dallas.
Equivalent salary in Dallas
$91,975
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and Dallas.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | Dallas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 131 | -67.0 (-33.8%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 99 | -23.0 (-18.9%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 103 | -11.0 (-9.6%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 98 | -15.0 (-13.3%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 97 | -9.0 (-8.5%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 101 | -20.0 (-16.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $4,980
Boston / Dallas
Couple
$11,270 / $8,270
Boston / Dallas
Family
$15,890 / $11,650
Boston / Dallas
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View Dallas city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Dallas.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.