Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Dallas

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Dallas, you'd need:

$67,711

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Dallas 117.8
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Dallas $33,594

Dallas

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,172
Net Income $39,587

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$72,454

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $948 more per year in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos compared to Dallas. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Dallas, while housing costs 4% more. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Dallas is 18% above avg, making Dallas the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $67,711 in Dallas once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Dallas has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Dallas ($22,621 vs $16,677 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Dallas
Schools
541
2,175
Enrollment
345,378
1,420,276
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
12.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Dallas
Institutions
31
96
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$16,677
Out-of-State
$28,276
$19,369
Grad Rate
58.5%
58.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Dallas more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 117.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in Dallas equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $67,711 in Dallas to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Dallas?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $23,172 in Dallas—housing is 4% more in Dallas.