Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Portland?

Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Portland?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Dallas, TX is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 11% higher in Portland, ME. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,038

+18% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,331

+4% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,664

+11% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,919

+23% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$452,600

+53% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$76,174

+12% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$56,960

+11% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.5 yr

+4.1 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

42.4%

46.7%

+4.3 pp in Portland, ME

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

59.2%

+21.8 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

26.0 min

19.9 min

+6.1 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

272.7

+59% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

2,513.3

+26% 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

46.5°F

+20.7°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

47.3 in

+9.7 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Portland, ME

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

28.6

+74% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$21.00

+31% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Portland, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Portland, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Dallas, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Portland, ME

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Portland, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / ME)

6.25%

5.5%

+0.8 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.15%

+7.2 pp in ME

Dallas vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Portland?: Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Portland?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).