Cost of living · head to head
Houston, TX is 4% cheaper than Dallas, TX.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Dallas, TXoverall index
103.1
Houston, TXoverall index
98.6
Try your own salary
in Dallas, TX
To live the same in Houston, TX, you’d need about $95,635.
That’s about $4,365 less — Houston, TX is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 4%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Houston, TX runs 11% lower than in Dallas, TX (104.5 vs 117.9), 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 Houston, TX
| $50,000 in Dallas, TX | $47,818 |
| $75,000 in Dallas, TX | $71,726 |
| $100,000 in Dallas, TX | $95,635 |
| $150,000 in Dallas, TX | $143,453 |
| $200,000 in Dallas, TX | $191,271 |
Each row shows the salary in Houston, TX that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Dallas, TX.
Dallas, TX · housing
117.9
Houston, TX · housing
104.5
Common questions
Is Houston, TX cheaper than Dallas, TX?
Yes — Houston, TX has an overall cost-of-living index of 98.6 versus 103.1 for Dallas, TX, making it about 4% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Houston, TX to match $100,000 in Dallas, TX?
About $95,635. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Dallas, TX costs roughly $95,635 in Houston, TX.
Is housing cheaper in Houston, TX than in Dallas, TX?
Housing in Houston, TX scores 104.5 versus 117.9 in Dallas, TX — about 11% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Dallas, TX and Houston, TX?
Overall, Houston, TX is about 4% cheaper than Dallas, TX (index 98.6 vs 103.1), with housing 11% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.