Dallas vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:

$73,126

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Dallas 117.8
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Dallas $33,594
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

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

$67,016

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $552 more per year in Dallas compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 2% more. The cost of living in Dallas is 18% above avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Dallas the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Dallas feels like earning $73,126 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($16,677 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Dallas
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
2,175
589
Enrollment
1,420,276
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
12.1%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Dallas
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
96
41
In-State Tuition
$16,677
$15,250
Out-of-State
$19,369
$16,986
Grad Rate
58.2%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 117.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Dallas?

You would need to earn approximately $73,126 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $23,172 in Dallas and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 2% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.