Cost of living · head to head
Dallas, TX is 5% pricier than Houston, TX.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Houston, TXoverall index
98.6
Dallas, TXoverall index
103.1
Try your own salary
in Houston, TX
To live the same in Dallas, TX, you’d need about $104,564.
That’s about $4,564 more — Dallas, TX is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Dallas, TX runs 13% higher than in Houston, TX (117.9 vs 104.5), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Dallas, TX
| $50,000 in Houston, TX | $52,282 |
| $75,000 in Houston, TX | $78,423 |
| $100,000 in Houston, TX | $104,564 |
| $150,000 in Houston, TX | $156,846 |
| $200,000 in Houston, TX | $209,128 |
Each row shows the salary in Dallas, TX that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Houston, TX.
Houston, TX · housing
104.5
Dallas, TX · housing
117.9
Common questions
Is Dallas, TX cheaper than Houston, TX?
No — Dallas, TX has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.1 versus 98.6 for Houston, TX, making it about 5% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Dallas, TX to match $100,000 in Houston, TX?
About $104,564. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Houston, TX costs roughly $104,564 in Dallas, TX.
Is housing cheaper in Dallas, TX than in Houston, TX?
Housing in Dallas, TX scores 117.9 versus 104.5 in Houston, TX — about 13% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Houston, TX and Dallas, TX?
Overall, Dallas, TX is about 5% pricier than Houston, TX (index 103.1 vs 98.6), with housing 13% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.