Question 1

Is Arlington or Dallas cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $163/month less than in Dallas, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,931/mo in Dallas.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Dallas?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $78,500/year in Dallas, TX — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Dallas cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $10,268/month in Dallas, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Dallas?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Arlington costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	Dallas62
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$4,440
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$10,268
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$78,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,931
Median home value	$276,400	$295,300
Median household income	$73,519	$67,760
Unemployment	4.7%	4.7%
Housing score	57	41
Jobs score	51	49
Safety score	65	39
Climate score	94	92
Amenities score	73	78
Population	394.8K	1.3M
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	96° / 37°

Arlington, TX vs Dallas, TX