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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Dallas at index 93 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Dallas at index 93 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Dallas (index 93, rent $1,591); San Francisco (index 224, rent $3,830). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
The numbers for Dallas are straightforward: 93 on the cost index, $1,591/month rent, $67,760 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. It lines up with what you'd expect.
Real talk: 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
#1 Ranked: Dallas, TX — cost index 93, rent $1,591/mo, income $67,760
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DallasTX | 93 | $1,591 | Details |
| 2 | San FranciscoCA | 224 | $3,830 | Details |
1,302,868 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in Dallas? Start with the 28% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And broadly, on the category level, Housing (index 93) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 99) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $67,760 and homes at $305,523 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (we double-checked this one).
808,988 residents · California
Here's San Francisco by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 224. Rent: $3,830/month. Income: $141,446/year. Home price: $1,299,230. Population: 808,988. The strongest category is Healthcare at 125; the most expensive is Housing at 224. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $23,220 more per year vs. the national median. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or just breathing room.
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 93 and rent of $1,591/mo, while San Francisco (ranked #2) has a cost index of 224 and rent of $3,830/mo — a 131-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.