Overall
103.1
+3.1 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Cost-of-living indicators for Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 103.1
- Overall RPP
- #48
- of 387 metros
- 117.9
- Rents RPP
- $97K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Dallas is more expensive than 88% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 103.1, 3.1% above the national average, led by rents at 117.9.
- 103.1
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #48
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 12%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 117.9
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $97,003 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $103,090.
What the Numbers Mean for Dallas
Dallas ranks #48 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 103.1, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is 3.1% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Dallas's most and least expensive categories — rents at 117.9 versus services at 90.7 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $97,003 inside Dallas, while a household needs roughly $103,090 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 117.9 — 17.9% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Dallas's overall index has stayed within 1.7 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 102.8 and services at 90.7, meaning everyday spending in Dallas is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Dallas vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
103 Top 12% higher than 88% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Dallas cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
117.9 RPP
- Services
Services
90.7 RPP
- Overall
Overall
103.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
102.8 RPP
What this shows Dallas's gap from the national average is led by rents at 117.9. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Dallas's cost comes from
Metros near Dallas's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 99.8, rents 121.2). Dallas is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Dallas's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
102.8
+2.8 above avg
Services
90.7
-9.3 below avg
Rents
117.9
+17.9 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$103,090
in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$51,545
$75,000 nationally
$77,318
$125,000 nationally
$128,862
$150,000 nationally
$154,635
$200,000 nationally
$206,180
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.7 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.4 |
| 2009 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 101.3 |
| 2011 | 100.2 |
| 2012 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 101.0 |
| 2014 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 99.7 |
| 2018 | 101.1 |
| 2019 | 103.4 |
| 2020 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 104.0 |
| 2022 | 103.4 |
| 2023 | 102.5 |
| 2024 | 103.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX's index of 103.1.
Other TX Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX? ▼
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 103.1, meaning it is 3.1% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 102.8, services at 90.7, and rents at 117.9. It ranks #48 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $103,090 in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. Conversely, $100K earned in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX has the purchasing power of $97,003 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX? ▼
Rents in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX are indexed at 117.9, which is 17.9% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX's overall cost index changed by +1.7 points (from 101.4 to 103.1). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX? ▼
The most expensive category in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is rents at 117.9, which is 17.9% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 90.7, 9.3% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Trenton-Princeton, Naples-Marco Island, Fairbanks-College. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX's 103.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
