Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Tacoma?

Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Tacoma?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Dallas vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Dallas, TX is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 19% higher in Tacoma, WA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,178

+6% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,332

+4% in Tacoma, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,693

+13% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$2,094

+34% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$454,600

+54% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$83,857

+24% in Tacoma, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$72,610

+41% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.3 yr

+3.9 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

42.4%

56.5%

+14.1 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

33.5%

+3.9 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

29.0 min

+3.0 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

1,064.4

+61% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

3,412.9

5,695.2

+67% in Tacoma, WA

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

52.1°F

+15.1°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

43.0 in

+5.5 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.12/gal

+42% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Texas vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$20.41

+33% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Dallas, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tacoma, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WA)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Dallas vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Tacoma?: Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Tacoma?: 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 Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Tacoma?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).