City comparison
Houston vs Dallas Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Dallas (110.6).
Houston Index
105.8
Dallas Index
110.6
Houston Rent
$2,175
Dallas Rent
$2,400
Houston Home price
$390,000
Dallas Home price
$414,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Dallas.
Equivalent salary in Dallas
$87,811
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Dallas.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Dallas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 131 | +13.0 (+11.0%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | +2.0 (+2.1%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 103 | -1.0 (-1.0%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 98 | +2.0 (+2.1%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | -4.0 (-4.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 101 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $4,980
Houston / Dallas
Couple
$7,870 / $8,270
Houston / Dallas
Family
$11,090 / $11,650
Houston / Dallas
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
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.