Cost of Living in Dallas, TX
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in Dallas? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $7,241 per year — Texas levies no state income tax, so that figure covers federal tax only. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($1,931/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the Dallas metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $39,587, or roughly $3,299 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The Dallas metro has a cost of living index of 117.8 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). At 18% above average, Dallas is a noticeably expensive metro — groceries, services, and everyday purchases cost more than in most of the country.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in Dallas represents approximately 33% of gross income. That exceeds the conventional 30% guideline, meaning housing takes a significant share of the budget at this income level. Texas's zero income tax helps offset the rent burden compared to otherwise similar cities that also levy state income tax.
Annual Breakdown
Gross Salary $70,000
Taxes (Est.) ...
Housing (Rent) -$23,172
Net Income ...
Cost of Living Index
117.8
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier
Living in Dallas, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
... / mo
Affordability Score
–
Grade Rent Burden –%
Affordable (<20%) 30% Rule Stretched (>40%)
K-12 Schools
See Details → Schools 2,175
Enrollment 1,420,276
Pupil:Teacher 0:1
Charter 12.1%
Title I 0%
Colleges & Universities
See Details → Institutions 96
Avg In-State $16,677
Avg Out-of-State $19,369
Avg Grad Rate 58.2%
| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCI Health Training Center | 215 | $0 | 100.0% |
| Allgood Beauty Institute | 20 | $0 | 100.0% |
| Graham's Barber College | 8 | $0 | 100.0% |
| Salon Boutique Academy | 191 | $0 | 95.0% |
| Graduate America College | 72 | $0 | 92.0% |
| ABC Beauty Academy | 65 | $0 | 88.0% |
| Peloton College | 63 | $0 | 88.0% |
| Texas Beauty College | 59 | $0 | 88.0% |
| Texas Christian University | 12,785 | $57,130 | 86.0% |
| Southern Methodist University | 11,842 | $57,212 | 83.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Arlington | 265 | $0 | 79.0% |
| Arlington Career Institute | 439 | $0 | 78.0% |
| Peloton College | 103 | $0 | 78.0% |
| Dallas Barber & Stylist College | 30 | $0 | 78.0% |
| M T Training Center | 261 | $0 | 77.0% |
| The Culinary School of Fort Worth | 69 | $0 | 75.0% |
| Parker University | 2,196 | $25,560 | 72.0% |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie | 1,330 | $0 | 72.0% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Lewisville | 127 | $0 | 72.0% |
| KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts | 87 | $17,430 | 72.0% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 30,885 | $14,564 | 71.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Dallas | 322 | $0 | 71.0% |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Hurst | 265 | $0 | 70.0% |
| CCI Training Center-Arlington | 187 | $0 | 70.0% |
| Cortiva Institute-Arlington | 90 | $0 | 70.0% |
| University of Dallas | 2,182 | $47,300 | 68.0% |
| Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth | 1,661 | $0 | 68.0% |
| The College of Health Care Professions-Fort Worth | 1,025 | $0 | 67.0% |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth | 447 | $0 | 67.0% |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Denton | 198 | $0 | 67.0% |
| DuVall's School of Cosmetology | 89 | $0 | 67.0% |
| Miller-Motte College-STVT-Arlington | 174 | $0 | 66.0% |
| Fort Worth Beauty School | 41 | $0 | 63.0% |
| Bella Cosmetology and Barber College | 71 | $0 | 61.0% |
| University of North Texas | 47,507 | $8,319 | 60.0% |
| Dallas Baptist University | 4,201 | $36,510 | 60.0% |
| Concorde Career College-Dallas | 183 | $0 | 59.0% |
| MediaTech Institute-Dallas | 200 | $0 | 58.0% |
| Mid Cities Barber College | 44 | $0 | 58.0% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | 43,992 | $9,206 | 57.0% |
| The College of Health Care Professions-Dallas | 633 | $0 | 57.0% |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North Dallas | 320 | $0 | 57.0% |
| Criswell College | 156 | $13,440 | 57.0% |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas | 429 | $16,520 | 56.0% |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Dallas | 410 | $0 | 56.0% |
| Messenger College | 26 | $9,600 | 56.0% |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington | 319 | $0 | 55.0% |
| Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Dallas | 212 | $0 | 52.0% |
| Hands on Therapy | 41 | $0 | 52.0% |
| Strayer University-Texas | 2,579 | $13,725 | 50.0% |
| Concorde Career College-Grand Prairie | 285 | $0 | 49.0% |
| Southwestern Christian College | 128 | $10,070 | 49.0% |
| Texas A & M University-Commerce | 12,013 | $4,790 | 46.0% |
| Wade College | 205 | $17,680 | 45.0% |
| Michael's Barber & Hair Stylist Academy | 49 | $0 | 45.0% |
| Texas Woman's University | 15,664 | $5,712 | 44.0% |
| University of North Texas at Dallas | 3,797 | $7,840 | 44.0% |
| Southwestern Adventist University | 817 | $23,928 | 41.0% |
| Tint School of Makeup & Cosmetology | 108 | $0 | 41.0% |
| The King's University | 579 | $11,400 | 40.0% |
| Paul Quinn College | 602 | $8,898 | 38.0% |
| Remington College-Dallas Campus | 208 | $23,785 | 38.0% |
| Dallas College | 66,592 | $4,050 | 36.0% |
| The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | 2,782 | $9,096 | 36.0% |
| Southwestern Assemblies of God University | 1,725 | $17,650 | 36.0% |
| DeVry University-Texas | 38 | $14,392 | 33.0% |
| Texas Wesleyan University | 2,595 | $32,960 | 32.0% |
| Buckner Barber School | 42 | $0 | 27.0% |
| Tarrant County College District | 41,472 | $3,402 | 26.0% |
| Dallas Institute of Funeral Service | 483 | $12,394 | 26.0% |
| Remington College-Fort Worth Campus | 164 | $19,341 | 26.0% |
| Dallas Christian College | 278 | $19,200 | 24.0% |
| Weatherford College | 5,440 | $6,060 | 23.0% |
| Collin County Community College District | 37,772 | $3,450 | 22.0% |
| The Chicago School-College of Nursing | 2 | $0 | 19.0% |
| Arlington Baptist University | 276 | $14,833 | 5.0% |
| Dallas Theological Seminary | 2,612 | $0 | — |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | 2,501 | $0 | — |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center | 2,344 | $8,750 | — |
| West Coast University-Dallas | 1,615 | $15,790 | — |
| Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online | 918 | $14,220 | — |
| Amberton University | 897 | $9,000 | — |
| Galen Health Institutes-Dallas | 554 | $16,200 | — |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas | 383 | $22,480 | — |
| Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus | 244 | $0 | — |
| The Chicago School at Dallas | 198 | $18,576 | — |
| Bakke Graduate University | 160 | $0 | — |
| Collectiv Hair Dressing Academy-Collectiv Academy-Dallas | 149 | $0 | — |
| Brite Divinity School | 119 | $0 | — |
| Remington College-Online Dallas | 111 | $15,764 | — |
| Redeemers University North America | 60 | $6,000 | — |
| CTK Healthcare & Career Institute | 45 | $0 | — |
| University of Phoenix-Texas | 20 | $9,552 | — |
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