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Dallas vs Los Angeles

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Los Angeles, CA, you'd need

$97,067 / year

Los Angeles, CA is 29% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Los Angeles, CA vs Dallas, TX)

  • Housing+63%
  • Food & groceries+12%
  • Transport+28%
  • Utilities-2%
  • Healthcare+8%
  • Goods & services+15%

Full comparison

Dallas, TXLos Angeles, CA
Cost of living
Overall cost index103133
Housing108176
Food98110
Transport103132
Utilities104102
Healthcare100108
Goods & services101116
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,500/mo$2,400/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,150/mo$1,800/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$2,800/mo$4,800/mo
Buy price / m² centre$3,800$9,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$970$749
Inexpensive meal$16$20
Monthly transit pass$96$100
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%37%
VAT / sales tax0%0%
Social security (employee)7.7%7.7%
Corporate tax21%21%
Capital gains20%20%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$4,300/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo$1,257/mo
GDP per capita$82,000$82,000
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeNative
Coworking spaces50120
Time zoneUTC-6UTC-8
Quality of life
Safety index5042
Healthcare index7678
Pollution index4560
Internet speed200 Mbps200 Mbps
Walkability4668
Public transport4055
Family-friendly6255
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo$480/mo
Life expectancy79 yr79 yr
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg+8 °C+15 °C
July avg+30 °C+23 °C
Sunny days / year234284
Rainfall / year960 mm380 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: United States vs United States. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

? Frequently asked questions

Is Dallas cheaper than Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is about 29% more expensive than Dallas overall — its cost-of-living index is 133 versus 103 for Dallas.

How much do you need to earn in Los Angeles to live like in Dallas?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Dallas is worth about $97,067 in Los Angeles. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Los Angeles?

Both cities are in the same country, so national income tax (37%) and VAT are identical; only local cost of living differs.

More comparisons from Dallas

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.