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Dallas vs Sydney

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

Dallas, TX vs Sydney, AU at a glance — Sydney, AU is 24% more expensive than Dallas, TX overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,200/mo versus $1,500/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 37%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Sydney, AU, you'd need

$92,804 / year

Sydney, AU is 24% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Sydney, AU vs Dallas, TX)

  • Housing+50%
  • Food & groceries+17%
  • Transport+2%
  • Utilities+6%
  • Healthcare-5%
  • Goods & services+19%

◎ How Dallas, TX and Sydney, AU compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Dallas, TXSydney, AU

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Dallas, TXSydney, AU
Cost of living
Overall cost index103128
Housing108162
Food98115
Transport103105
Utilities104110
Healthcare10095
Goods & services101120
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$1,500/mo$2,200/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,150/mo$1,650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$2,800/mo$4,200/mo
Buy price / m² centre$3,800$12,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$970$784
Inexpensive meal$16$18
Monthly transit pass$96$130
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%45%
VAT / sales tax0%10%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%30%
Capital gains20%—
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$3,900/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓$2,600/mo
GDP per capita$90,027✓$65,130✓
Inflation (annual)—2.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeNative
Coworking spaces5090
Time zoneUTC-6UTC+10
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)5874
Safety index5074
Healthcare index7685
Pollution index4530
Internet speed200 Mbps90 Mbps
Walkability4678
Public transport4080
Family-friendly6276
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$450/mo—
Life expectancy79 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg+8 °C+23 °C
July avg+30 °C+13 °C
Sunny days / year234236
Rainfall / year960 mm1,210 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h3 h

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

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Dallas vs Sydney — in your currency

DallasSydney
1-bed rent, city centre$1,500$2,200
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,150$1,650
Inexpensive meal$16$18
Monthly transit pass$96$130
Utilities (monthly)$175$150

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Dallas

A sprawling, business-friendly metroplex with no state income tax and affordable housing.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-6
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
50/100
Climate
❄ 8°C · ☀ 30°C · 234 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Uptown · Deep Ellum · Bishop Arts

Good to know before you move to Sydney

Beaches, sunshine and a high quality of life — for a price, with housing among the least affordable in the developed world.

Currency
Australian dollar ($ AUD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC+10
Internet
90 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
74/100
Climate
❄ 23°C · ☀ 13°C · 236 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
I · 230V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Surry Hills · Bondi · Newtown

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Dallas to Sydney: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Dallas to Sydney, your cost of living will be roughly 24% more expensive. Sydney’s cost-of-living index is 128 versus 103 for Dallas (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Dallas cheaper than Sydney?

Sydney is about 24% more expensive than Dallas overall — its cost-of-living index is 128 versus 103 for Dallas.

Which is more expensive, Dallas or Sydney?

Sydney is more expensive than Dallas. Its cost-of-living index is 128 vs 103 (US = 100) — about 24% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Dallas or Sydney?

Rent is cheaper in Dallas — about $1,500/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $2,200 in Sydney.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Dallas is worth about $92,804 in Sydney. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Sydney?

United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 45% in Australia.

◷ More comparisons from Dallas

How we calculate these figures →

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