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What it actually costs to live in Dallas right now.
Every number sourced. Checked this month.
Dallas-Fort Worth is the only Texas metro where prices run above the national average. Rents and home prices are flat to slightly down in 2026, but transit fares, Oncor delivery charges and the Dallas County tax rate all moved this year. Here is where things stand.
Numbers last checked October 31, 2026The numbers
| Topic | What | Cost | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | ||||
| Rent | 1-bedroom, median | $1,207 | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Rent | 2-bedroom, median | $1,428 | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Rent | Change in city median, year over year | −0.6% | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Rent | DFW metro median, all sizes | $1,413 | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Buying | ||||
| Home prices | DFW 13-county median sale price | $399,900 | Apr 2025–Apr 2026 | The Real Deal |
| Home prices | Collin County median (down 6.8%) | $465,000 | Apr 2025–Apr 2026 | The Real Deal |
| Taxes | ||||
| Property tax | Dallas County rate per $100 (subject to Nov 3, 2026 election) | $0.248650 | 2026 tax year | Dallas County |
| Property tax | County share of tax on median homestead ($268,056 taxable) | $666.52 | 2026 tax year | Dallas County |
| Sales tax | Combined rate in Dallas (Texas maximum) | 8.25% | Checked Oct 31, 2026 | Texas Comptroller city rates |
| Bills and getting around | ||||
| Electricity | Oncor delivery: fixed charge | $4.06/mo | Rate case approved Apr 17, 2026; in effect about Jun 1, 2026 | Oncor |
| Electricity | Oncor delivery: per kWh (before your energy charge; plan-site figures, tariff not reached) | 6.87¢ | Sep 1, 2026 (was 6.12¢ from Jun 1) | Rhythm, ElectricityPlans |
| Transit | DART 3-Hour Pass, local | $3 | Mar 1, 2025 | DART |
| Transit | DART Local Day Pass | $6 | Mar 1, 2025 | DART |
| Transit | DART Local 31-day pass | $126 | Mar 1, 2025 | DART |
| Transit | Regional Day Pass (DART, Trinity Metro, DCTA) | $9 | Mar 1, 2026 | DART |
| Transit | Regional 31-day pass | $192 | Mar 1, 2026 | DART |
| Tolls | NTTA TollTag rate per mile (ZipCash is about double) | 22¢ | Jul 1, 2025 | KETR |
| Pay and prices | ||||
| Income | Median household income, city of Dallas | $70,518 | 2024 ACS 5-year | Dallas OED |
| Income | Median household income, DFW metro | $90,275 | 2024 ACS 5-year | Dallas OED |
| Wages | Mean hourly wage, all jobs, DFW (U.S. $33.54) | $33.96 | May 2025 | BLS |
| Living wage | One adult, no kids, DFW | $24.14/hr | Feb 15, 2026 | MIT |
| Prices | Inflation, all items, year over year, DFW | +3.0% | Sep 2026 | BLS CPI |
| Prices | Groceries (food at home), year over year | +3.9% | Sep 2026 | BLS CPI |
| Jobs | DFW unemployment (preliminary) | 4.1% | Sep 2026 | BLS |
Dallas County’s adopted rate lifts the county share of the median homestead bill from $558.97 to $666.52, a 22% effective increase (the no-new-revenue rate was $0.203785), which is why it went to voters on Nov 3, 2026 (Dallas County notice). We will update this row after the canvass. City of Dallas and Dallas ISD 2026 rates are not yet confirmed here.
Rents around DFW
Median rent from Apartment List (Oct 2026 data). Neighborhood-level figures for Uptown, Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts and Lakewood are coming in a later update.
Sources: Apartment List Dallas; Apartment List Fort Worth (Nov 2026 reports).
Out-of-date numbers you’ll still find online
The regional pass good on DART, Trinity Metro and DCTA dropped on Mar 1, 2026.
DART replaced single rides and AM/PM/Midday passes on Mar 1, 2025, and dropped the retail annual pass.
Those cities struck deals with DART. Highland Park did vote to leave in May 2026, while Addison and University Park stayed (KERA, May 2, 2026).
Raised statewide in Nov 2025. Details on Texas taxes.
Same everywhere in Texas
Income tax, the sales tax ceiling, homestead exemptions, vehicle fees and insurance averages are on Texas taxes and pay and the Texas overview. Compare Dallas with the other big cities on the comparison page, or see Fort Worth next door.
How we check
Every figure links to its source and shows the date it applies to. Where we could only find a secondary source, we say so. Read the full methodology.