Houston, TX vs Dallas, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Dallas, TX is 4.5% more expensive than Houston, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Houston works out to about $78,400 in Dallas, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 12.8% more in Dallas. Goods are 2.2% higher and other services 4.3% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,659 a month in Dallas and $1,638 in Houston, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $358,000 in Dallas and $303,000 in Houston.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Dallas was 2.0% more expensive than Houston.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 12.8% higher in Dallas than in Houston
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
All items Houston, TX: 98.6 Dallas, TX: 103.1
Goods Houston, TX: 100.6 Dallas, TX: 102.8
Housing (rents) Houston, TX: 104.5 Dallas, TX: 117.9
Utilities Houston, TX: 95.3 Dallas, TX: 90.7
Other services Houston, TX: 95.6 Dallas, TX: 99.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.6 | 103.1 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 102.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 104.5 | 117.9 |
| Utilities | 95.3 | 90.7 |
| Other services | 95.6 | 99.7 |
| Category | Houston | Dallas | Dallas vs Houston |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.6 | 103.1 | +4.5% |
| Goods | 100.6 | 102.8 | +2.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 104.5 | 117.9 | +12.8% |
| Utilities | 95.3 | 90.7 | −4.8% |
| Other services | 95.6 | 99.7 | +4.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,638 | $1,659 | +1.3% |
| Typical home value | $303,000 | $358,000 | +18.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Houston | $75,000 | $78,400 | +4.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Houston and Dallas has widened since 2008: 1.9 points then, 4.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.4 | 101.4 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 101.0 | 101.3 |
| 2011 | 98.7 | 100.2 |
| 2012 | 100.1 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.0 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 103.1 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 102.4 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 99.7 |
| 2018 | 101.9 | 101.1 |
| 2019 | 101.4 | 103.4 |
| 2020 | 100.0 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 99.7 | 104.0 |
| 2022 | 98.8 | 103.4 |
| 2023 | 99.7 | 102.5 |
| 2024 | 98.6 | 103.1 |
Goods
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.9 | 99.6 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 97.2 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 97.6 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 99.0 | 99.5 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 99.5 |
| 2014 | 98.9 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 98.9 | 98.0 |
| 2016 | 97.7 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 96.3 | 99.6 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 99.3 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 96.7 | 102.5 |
| 2021 | 97.7 | 102.9 |
| 2022 | 98.1 | 102.1 |
| 2023 | 101.7 | 103.6 |
| 2024 | 100.6 | 102.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 103.3 |
| 2009 | 101.9 | 102.4 |
| 2010 | 103.5 | 101.9 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 104.1 |
| 2012 | 103.4 | 103.6 |
| 2013 | 104.1 | 103.8 |
| 2014 | 107.6 | 105.4 |
| 2015 | 108.6 | 106.1 |
| 2016 | 110.0 | 108.7 |
| 2017 | 108.5 | 110.8 |
| 2018 | 108.0 | 111.8 |
| 2019 | 107.4 | 112.6 |
| 2020 | 107.5 | 114.5 |
| 2021 | 105.6 | 114.3 |
| 2022 | 107.8 | 116.3 |
| 2023 | 106.3 | 117.8 |
| 2024 | 104.5 | 117.9 |
Utilities
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.4 | 108.7 |
| 2009 | 95.3 | 105.0 |
| 2010 | 97.6 | 108.9 |
| 2011 | 97.4 | 103.6 |
| 2012 | 95.1 | 100.0 |
| 2013 | 95.8 | 108.6 |
| 2014 | 94.5 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 83.8 | 97.2 |
| 2016 | 92.5 | 99.5 |
| 2017 | 85.7 | 97.5 |
| 2018 | 83.1 | 98.6 |
| 2019 | 91.2 | 88.1 |
| 2020 | 86.4 | 82.6 |
| 2021 | 89.1 | 85.1 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 88.1 |
| 2023 | 94.9 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 95.3 | 90.7 |
Other services
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.1 | 101.6 |
| 2009 | 102.4 | 104.4 |
| 2010 | 101.4 | 102.3 |
| 2011 | 99.3 | 102.2 |
| 2012 | 100.2 | 101.0 |
| 2013 | 103.3 | 101.0 |
| 2014 | 103.7 | 100.8 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 98.1 |
| 2016 | 104.3 | 92.2 |
| 2017 | 101.2 | 96.9 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 102.5 | 104.2 |
| 2020 | 100.9 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 100.2 | 103.0 |
| 2022 | 97.0 | 101.8 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 95.6 | 99.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,659 in Dallas vs $1,638 in Houston
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,210 | $1,064 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,239 | $1,093 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,239 | $1,103 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,229 | $1,105 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,237 | $1,121 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,247 | $1,147 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,237 | $1,153 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,226 | $1,155 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,242 | $1,178 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,257 | $1,205 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,259 | $1,210 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,282 | $1,210 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,294 | $1,227 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,308 | $1,248 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,303 | $1,248 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,305 | $1,256 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,311 | $1,271 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,330 | $1,295 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,330 | $1,298 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,331 | $1,294 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,345 | $1,309 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,334 | $1,312 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,343 | $1,321 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,346 | $1,327 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,365 | $1,361 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,424 | $1,431 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,483 | $1,514 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,497 | $1,546 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,523 | $1,582 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,564 | $1,647 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,577 | $1,667 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,561 | $1,637 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,583 | $1,650 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,605 | $1,663 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,608 | $1,665 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,594 | $1,641 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,604 | $1,640 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,627 | $1,657 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,635 | $1,653 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,623 | $1,632 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,635 | $1,646 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,639 | $1,660 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,636 | $1,647 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,623 | $1,632 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,620 | $1,642 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,636 | $1,658 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,638 | $1,659 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $358,000 in Dallas vs $303,000 in Houston
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Houston, TX | Dallas, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $184K | $180K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $188K | $185K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $192K | $190K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $195K | $196K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $198K | $202K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $200K | $208K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $201K | $212K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $204K | $218K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $205K | $224K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $207K | $230K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $209K | $234K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $211K | $239K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $213K | $245K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $215K | $249K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $218K | $252K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $220K | $253K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $223K | $256K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $224K | $257K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $225K | $258K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $228K | $260K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $230K | $265K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $231K | $266K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $234K | $270K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $242K | $280K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $251K | $293K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $262K | $310K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $272K | $323K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $281K | $337K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $297K | $362K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $313K | $387K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $318K | $390K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $315K | $384K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $311K | $378K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $311K | $378K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $313K | $381K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $313K | $380K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $314K | $382K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $316K | $382K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $315K | $381K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $314K | $380K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $313K | $377K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $310K | $370K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $308K | $366K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $308K | $365K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $307K | $363K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $304K | $359K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $303K | $358K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.