Living Cost Compare
Dallas

Texas

$1,470/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, Dallas, TX is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 15% higher in New York City, NY. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$1,633
+30% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,280
$1,705
+33% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,500
$1,781
+19% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,559
$2,065
+32% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$295,300
$751,700
+155% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$67,760
$79,713
+18% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$61,430
+19% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
38.0 yr
+4.6 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
42.4%
32.8%
+9.6 pp in Dallas, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
41.0%
+3.6 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
26.0 min
40.6 min
+14.6 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
661.7
690.9
+4% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
3,411.8
2,413.5
+29% 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
55.0°F
+12.2°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
37.6 in
49.9 in
+12.4 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.44/gal
+12% in New York City, NY

Area: Texas vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$3.00
+20% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
28.6
+74% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$18.90
+23% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Dallas, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.92
+11% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in New York City, NY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.90
+5% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.02
+6% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.68
+11% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NY)
6.25%
4%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.90%
+10.9 pp in NY

Dallas vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or New York City?
Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in New York City?
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 New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or New York City?
Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).