Living Cost Compare
Dallas

Texas

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Dallas, TX versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Dallas, TX is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 16% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$1,468
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,280
$1,688
+32% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,500
$2,148
+43% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,559
$2,489
+60% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$295,300
$879,500
+198% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,760
$80,366
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$55,850
+9% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
36.9 yr
+3.5 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
42.4%
36.3%
+6.1 pp in Dallas, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
37.8%
+0.4 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
26.0 min
31.1 min
+5.1 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
661.7
730.5
+10% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
3,411.8
1,501.2
+56% 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
67.0°F
+0.2°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
37.6 in
21.2 in
+16.3 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$5.89/gal
+49% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Texas vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.75
+30% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
33.4
+103% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$20.72
+16% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Los Angeles, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / CA)
6.25%
7.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
13.30%
+13.3 pp in CA

Dallas vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Los Angeles?
Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Los Angeles?
Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).