Dallas vs Austin
Dallas, TX · Austin, TX
Dallas is 15% cheaper than Austin overall.
Home Price
Dallas: $370,000
Austin: $500,000
Monthly Rent
Dallas: $1,275/mo
Austin: $1,300/mo
COL Index
Dallas: 105
Austin: 121
Median Income
Dallas: $69,400
Austin: $83,800
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Dallas has the same purchasing power as $115,238 in Austin — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Austin are 35% cheaper (-$130,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Dallas saves you $25/month — $300 per year. Median rent: $1,275/mo in Dallas vs $1,300/mo in Austin.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Dallas owners pay roughly $6,660/year in property taxes vs $9,000/year in Austin. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $69,400 in Dallas and $83,800 in Austin. Dallas residents earn 21% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 28 minutes in Dallas vs 27 minutes in Austin. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Dallas to Austin, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Dallas | Equivalent in Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $57,619 | +$7,619 |
| $75,000 | $86,429 | +$11,429 |
| $100,000 | $115,238 | +$15,238 |
| $150,000 | $172,857 | +$22,857 |
| $200,000 | $230,476 | +$30,476 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Dallas Calculators
Austin Calculators
Related Comparisons
Dallas vs Austin: Common Questions
Is Dallas or Austin cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Dallas is cheaper overall. Dallas has a COL index of 105 while Austin scores 121 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Dallas and Austin?
The median home price in Dallas is $370,000 vs $500,000 in Austin — a difference of $130,000 (35%).
What salary do I need in Austin to match my Dallas income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Dallas is equivalent to $115,238 in Austin in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Austin has a lower property tax rate (1.8% vs 1.8%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $6,660/year vs $9,000/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.