Cost of living · head to head
Los Angeles, CA is 10% pricier 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
Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
Try your own salary
in Dallas, TX
To live the same in Los Angeles, CA, you’d need about $110,184.
That’s about $10,184 more — Los Angeles, CA is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 10%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Los Angeles, CA runs 45% higher than in Dallas, TX (170.4 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 Los Angeles, CA
| $50,000 in Dallas, TX | $55,092 |
| $75,000 in Dallas, TX | $82,638 |
| $100,000 in Dallas, TX | $110,184 |
| $150,000 in Dallas, TX | $165,276 |
| $200,000 in Dallas, TX | $220,369 |
Each row shows the salary in Los Angeles, CA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Dallas, TX.
Dallas, TX · housing
117.9
Los Angeles, CA · housing
170.4
Common questions
Is Los Angeles, CA cheaper than Dallas, TX?
No — Los Angeles, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 113.6 versus 103.1 for Dallas, TX, making it about 10% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to match $100,000 in Dallas, TX?
About $110,184. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Dallas, TX costs roughly $110,184 in Los Angeles, CA.
Is housing cheaper in Los Angeles, CA than in Dallas, TX?
Housing in Los Angeles, CA scores 170.4 versus 117.9 in Dallas, TX — about 45% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Dallas, TX and Los Angeles, CA?
Overall, Los Angeles, CA is about 10% pricier than Dallas, TX (index 113.6 vs 103.1), with housing 45% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.