Quick answer
Dallas is 37% cheaper than Raleigh overall. A $100K salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $63,000 in Dallas.
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh vs Dallas Cost of Living (2026)
Side-by-side cost comparison plus a salary calculator to find your equivalent pay in either city.
Overall COL difference
Dallas is 37% cheaper
1BR rent difference
-2% (B vs A)
$100K in A = in B
$63,000
Raleigh vs Dallas: Side-by-Side
1BR median rent
$1,480/mo
$1,450/mo
-2%
2BR median rent
$1,860/mo
$1,850/mo
-1%
Median home price
$420K
$380K
-10%
Avg monthly groceries
$350
$355
+1%
Avg monthly utilities
$145
$175
+21%
State income tax
4.5%
None
Dallas saves
Walk score
34/100
46/100
Dallas better
Transit score
25/100
35/100
Dallas better
Salary Equivalency Calculator
How much you need to earn in Dallas to maintain the same standard of living as your current Raleigh salary — and vice versa.
$60,000
$38,000
$95,000
$80,000
$51,000
$126,000
$100,000
$63,000
$158,000
$120,000
$76,000
$189,000
$150,000
$95,000
$237,000
Calculated using a weighted index: rent (40%), home prices (20%), groceries (20%), utilities (10%), state income tax (10%). Individual lifestyles vary.
Monthly Budget: Raleigh vs Dallas
Who Each City Is Best For
Raleigh is best for
- ✓tech workers
- ✓biotech / pharma professionals
- ✓researchers
- ✓young families
Dallas is best for
- ✓finance professionals
- ✓corporate workers
- ✓remote workers
- ✓families
FAQs
Is Raleigh or Dallas cheaper to live in?
Dallas is 37% cheaper than Raleigh overall. Dallas 1BR rent ($1,450/mo) vs Raleigh ($1,480/mo). Median home price: Dallas $380K vs Raleigh $420K.
How much salary do I need in Dallas to match $100K in Raleigh?
$63,000 in Dallas is equivalent to $100,000 in Raleigh based on cost of living differences. The biggest factors are rent (-2% difference) and state taxes (Raleigh: 4.5% vs Dallas: None).
What is the rent difference between Raleigh and Dallas?
1BR: Raleigh $1,480/mo vs Dallas $1,450/mo (-2%). 2BR: Raleigh $1,860/mo vs Dallas $1,850/mo (-1%).
Does Raleigh or Dallas have lower taxes?
Raleigh (NC) has 4.5% state income tax. Dallas (TX) has None state income tax. On a $100K salary, the annual tax difference is ~$4,500.