Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (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 Dallas than in Newark?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Newark?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 29% higher in Dallas, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,111

+12% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$978

+24% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,386

+8% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,695

+9% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$337,800

+14% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$48,416

+29% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$61,430

+19% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

34.8 yr

+1.4 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

42.4%

24.1%

+18.3 pp in Dallas, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

17.4%

+20.0 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

33.2 min

+7.2 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

582.5

+12% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

1,961.8

+43% 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

54.9°F

+12.3°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

46.3 in

+8.7 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Newark, NJ

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

23.3

+42% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$15.93

+48% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Newark, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Dallas, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NJ)

6.25%

6.625%

+0.4 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in NJ

Dallas vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (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 Dallas than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Newark?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).