Living Cost Compare
Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

vs
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 7% higher in Dallas, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$1,009
+20% in Dallas, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,280
$978
+24% in Dallas, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,500
$1,128
+25% in Dallas, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,559
$1,381
+11% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$295,300
$437,100
+48% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$67,760
$62,800
+7% in Dallas, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$48,010
+7% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
23.7 yr
+9.7 yr in Dallas, TX
Homeownership
42.4%
39.9%
+2.5 pp in Dallas, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
45.0%
+7.6 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
26.0 min
18.5 min
+7.5 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
661.9
205.7
+69% in Dallas, TX
Property Crime
3,412.9
1,280.6
+62% 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
53.4°F
+13.8°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
37.6 in
19.8 in
+17.8 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$4.27/gal
+19% in Provo, UT

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
13.4
+16% in Dallas, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$11.84
+63% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dallas, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Provo, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / UT)
6.25%
6.1%
+0.2 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

Dallas vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Provo?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Provo?
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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Provo?
Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).