Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Green Bay?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $29,000 in Green Bay.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Green Bay?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Green Bay Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 8% higher in Dallas, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$707

+44% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$730

+43% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$956

+36% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,287

+17% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$191,500

+35% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$62,546

+8% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,940

+3% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

35.7 yr

+2.3 yr in Green Bay, WI

Homeownership

42.4%

55.9%

+13.5 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

25.5%

+11.9 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

18.9 min

+7.1 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

501.7

+24% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

1,331.2

+61% 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

44.3°F

+22.9°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

29.5 in

+8.1 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Green Bay, WI

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

19.7

+20% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$11.79

+61% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Green Bay, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Dallas, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Green Bay, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Green Bay, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WI)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.65%

+7.7 pp in WI

Dallas vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Green Bay?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Green Bay?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Green Bay?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).