City comparison
Chicago vs Dallas Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Chicago (113.6) and Dallas (110.6).
Chicago Index
113.6
Dallas Index
110.6
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Dallas Rent
$2,400
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Dallas Home price
$414,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Chicago to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Dallas.
Equivalent salary in Dallas
$88,597
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Chicago and Dallas.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Chicago | Dallas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 128 | 131 | +3.0 (+2.3%) |
| Groceries | 106 | 99 | -7.0 (-6.6%) |
| Transportation | 112 | 103 | -9.0 (-8.0%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 98 | -6.0 (-5.8%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | -4.0 (-4.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 105 | 101 | -4.0 (-3.8%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,130 / $4,980
Chicago / Dallas
Couple
$8,520 / $8,270
Chicago / Dallas
Family
$12,000 / $11,650
Chicago / Dallas
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
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.