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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Dallas stands out at 99 on the index, with rent of $1,591/month and household income of $67,760. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Dallas stands out at 99 on the index, with rent of $1,591/month and household income of $67,760. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
The #1 spot goes to Dallas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,591/month — saving renters $3,648 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 91, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 102. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Bottom line: Dallas, TX leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Dallas, TX — cost index 99, rent $1,591/mo, income $67,760
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DallasTX | 99 | $1,591 | Details |
| 2 | Fort WorthTX | 98 | $1,554 | Details |
1,302,868 residents · Texas
The #1 spot goes to Dallas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,591/month — saving renters $3,648 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 91, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 102. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
978,468 residents · Texas
Why Fort Worth ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 98 on the cost index, residents save roughly 14% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,554/month while the median household pulls in $76,602/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (101) lags behind. Home prices average $295,822 — $171,548 below the national median. Hard to argue with that.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Dallas (ranked #1) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,591/mo, while Fort Worth (ranked #2) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,554/mo — a 1-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Dallas is $1,591/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $304 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Dallas is $305,523, which is 4.5× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.