City comparison
Dallas vs Houston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Dallas (110.6) and Houston (105.8).
Dallas Index
110.6
Houston Index
105.8
Dallas Rent
$2,400
Houston Rent
$2,175
Dallas Home price
$414,000
Houston Home price
$390,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Dallas to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Houston.
Equivalent salary in Houston
$84,181
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Dallas and Houston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Dallas | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 131 | 118 | -13.0 (-9.9%) |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | -2.0 (-2.0%) |
| Transportation | 103 | 104 | +1.0 (+1.0%) |
| Healthcare | 98 | 96 | -2.0 (-2.0%) |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | +4.0 (+4.1%) |
| Miscellaneous | 101 | 99 | -2.0 (-2.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,980 / $4,740
Dallas / Houston
Couple
$8,270 / $7,870
Dallas / Houston
Family
$11,650 / $11,090
Dallas / Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Dallas city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Dallas.
View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
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.