Cost of Living in Dallas (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Dallas? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, Uptown or Deep EllumUSD 1,400–1,950 / month

One-bed apartment, Richardson, Garland or IrvingUSD 1,100–1,450 / month

Car — insurance, fuel, tolls and parkingUSD 400–600 / month, and effectively unavoidable

Groceries, one personUSD 340–470 / month

Summer electricity, one-bed with air conditioningUSD 110–200 / month in July and August

Good to know

Population

≈1.3 million in the city; ≈8.1 million across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex

Languages

English; Spanish is very widely spoken across the metro, and Vietnamese in parts of Garland and Arlington

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Time zone

CST (GMT-6); CDT (GMT-5) from mid-March to early November

Power plug

Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz

Climate

Humid subtropical — long hot summers above 38°C, mild winters, violent spring storms and severe hail

Driving side

Right

State income tax

None — Texas funds itself through property and sales tax instead

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Dallas checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.