Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Fayetteville?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $33,000 in Fayetteville.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Fayetteville?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Fayetteville Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $990 in Fayetteville, AR. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR — about 13% higher in Dallas, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Fayetteville, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$709

+44% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$817

+36% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$999

+33% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,430

+8% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$322,500

+9% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$59,074

+13% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$46,610

+9% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

28.7 yr

+4.7 yr in Dallas, TX

Homeownership

42.4%

41.9%

+0.5 pp in Dallas, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

49.8%

+12.4 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

26.0 min

18.2 min

+7.8 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

429.4

+35% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

2,392.2

+30% 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

67.2°F

57.1°F

+10.1°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

48.5 in

+10.9 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.62/gal

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.1

+11% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$27.86

+13% 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 (TX / AR)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.90%

+3.9 pp in AR

Dallas vs Fayetteville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Fayetteville?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Fayetteville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $33,000 in Fayetteville.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Fayetteville?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).