Dallas vs Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison

Dallas

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

To match your lifestyle in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, you'd need:

$59,759

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Dallas 117.8
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 106.3
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Dallas $33,594
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land $41,299

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$18,876
Net Income $43,883

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

$81,641

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $4,296 more per year in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land compared to Dallas. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, while housing costs 19% less. The cost of living in Dallas is 18% above avg, while Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 6% above avg, making Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Dallas feels like earning $59,759 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ($16,677 vs $12,254 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Dallas
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
Schools
2,175
1,666
Enrollment
1,420,276
1,323,488
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
12.1%
10.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Dallas
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
Institutions
96
79
In-State Tuition
$16,677
$12,254
Out-of-State
$19,369
$15,961
Grad Rate
58.2%
56.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas or Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land more expensive?

Dallas is more expensive with a cost of living index of 117.8 vs 106.3 (national average = 100).

What salary in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land equals $70,000 in Dallas?

You would need to earn approximately $59,759 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Dallas, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Dallas vs Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $23,172 in Dallas and $18,876 in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land—housing is 19% less in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land.