City comparison
San Diego vs Dallas Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Dallas (110.6).
San Diego Index
141.4
Dallas Index
110.6
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Dallas Rent
$2,400
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Dallas Home price
$414,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Dallas.
Equivalent salary in Dallas
$91,515
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Dallas.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Dallas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 131 | -63.0 (-32.5%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 99 | -23.0 (-18.9%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 103 | -6.0 (-5.5%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 98 | -12.0 (-10.9%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 97 | -11.0 (-10.2%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 101 | -17.0 (-14.4%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $4,980
San Diego / Dallas
Couple
$11,040 / $8,270
San Diego / Dallas
Family
$15,560 / $11,650
San Diego / Dallas
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.