Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Dallas?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Dallas?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $51,000 in Dallas.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Dallas?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Columbia vs Dallas Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,480 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 18% higher in Dallas, TX. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio

$802

$1,259

+57% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,280

+25% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,500

+29% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,559

+17% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$295,300

+21% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$67,760

+22% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$51,440

+11% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

33.4 yr

+4.7 yr in Dallas, TX

Homeownership

47.3%

42.4%

+4.9 pp in Columbia, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

37.4%

+8.7 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

26.0 min

+8.6 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

661.9

+14% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

3,412.9

+5% 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

64.9°F

67.2°F

+2.3°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

37.6 in

+7.8 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.58/gal

+9% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs DART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

15.9

+3% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$31.89

+10% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / TX)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Dallas?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Dallas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Dallas?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (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).