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Compare Cost of Living

Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Houston vs Dallas

Dallas is 4.5% more expensive than Houston. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
98.6
Overall RPP
100.6
Goods
95.3
Services
104.5
Rents
Metro B
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
103.1
Overall RPP
102.8
Goods
90.7
Services
117.9
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Houston Dallas Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 98.6 103.1 +4.5
Goods 100.6 102.8 +2.2
Services 95.3 90.7 -4.6
Rents/Housing 104.5 117.9 +13.4

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost Higher than Houston
Houston
98.6
Dallas
103.1
Goods Higher than Houston
Houston
100.6
Dallas
102.8
Services Lower than Houston
Houston
95.3
Dallas
90.7
Rents/Housing Higher than Houston
Houston
104.5
Dallas
117.9

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Dallas to match your purchasing power in Houston:

Salary in Houston Equivalent in Dallas Difference
$50,000 $52,262 +$2,262
$75,000 $78,392 +$3,392
$100,000 $104,523 +$4,523
$150,000 $156,785 +$6,785

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Houston Dallas
Population 7,274,714 7,807,555
Median Household Income $80,458 $87,155
Data Year 2024 2024
State TX TX

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Dallas is 4.5 points pricier than Houston (98.6 vs 103.1).

Goods: Dallas is 2.2 points pricier than Houston (100.6 vs 102.8).

Services: Houston is 4.6 points cheaper than Dallas (95.3 vs 90.7).

Rents/Housing: Dallas is 13.4 points pricier than Houston (104.5 vs 117.9).

⇆ Reverse comparison Houston details → Dallas details →

Also Compare Houston With

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Washington-Arlington-Alexandria vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington vs Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas more expensive than Houston? ▼
Dallas is 4.5% more expensive than Houston. The overall cost index is 103.1 vs 98.6 (national average = 100).
What salary in Dallas is equivalent to $100K in Houston? ▼
A $100,000 salary in Houston has the same purchasing power as $104,523 in Dallas, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Houston and Dallas? ▼
Housing/rents in Houston are indexed at 104.5 while Dallas is at 117.9 (national average = 100). Dallas has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Houston or Dallas? ▼
Dallas is larger by population. Houston has 7,274,714 residents vs 7,807,555 in Dallas.

Explore More Data

Salary Calculator → Cost Rankings → All Metros → Rent Data → Salary Data → Relocation Guide →

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100