Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

vs
Dallas

Texas

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,470 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 8% higher in Arlington, TX. Both cities are in Texas, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$1,259
+16% in Dallas, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,280
+8% in Dallas, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$1,500
+6% in Dallas, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,559
+14% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$295,300
+7% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$67,760
+8% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$51,440
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
33.4 yr
+0.2 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
54.8%
42.4%
+12.4 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
37.4%
+4.3 pp in Dallas, TX
Avg Commute
26.7 min
26.0 min
+0.7 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
492.4
661.7
+34% in Dallas, TX
Property Crime
2,433.5
3,411.8
+40% in Dallas, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
67.2°F
+1.8°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
37.6 in
+2.0 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$3.96/gal
about equal

Area: Texas vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs DART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$24.61
about equal

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / TX)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Arlington vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Dallas?
Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Dallas?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Dallas?
Neither — both are in Texas, so they share the same state tax rates: no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).