Cost of Living: Dallas, TX vs Chicago, IL

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,516/mo in Dallas, TX versus $4,227/mo in Chicago, IL. In the model, rent is about 20.45% of gross in Dallas, TX versus 20.28% in Chicago, IL, so Chicago, IL tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Dallas, TX
$4,516/mo
Income level: near
Take-home in Chicago, IL
$4,227/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Dallas, TX
20.45%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Chicago, IL
20.28%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Dallas, TX and Chicago, IL.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Dallas, TX
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Chicago, IL
  • Lower home prices: Chicago, IL
  • Higher median household income: Dallas, TX

Cost of Living Index

Dallas, TX: 96.8 (U.S. = 100) · Chicago, IL: 98.3 (U.S. = 100)

Dallas, TX has a lower cost-of-living index than Chicago, IL, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Dallas, TX: $1,333/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Chicago, IL: $1,323/mo

Median rent in Dallas, TX is $10/mo higher than in Chicago, IL.

Median Home Price

Dallas, TX: $295,300 · Chicago, IL: $147,800

Median home price in Dallas, TX is $147,500 higher than in Chicago, IL.

Median Household Income

Dallas, TX: $67,760 · Chicago, IL: $56,815

Dallas, TX has a higher median household income than Chicago, IL by $10,945.

Dallas, TX overview · Chicago, IL overview · Popular comparisons