Question 1

Is Arlington or Dallas cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $175/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 $72,000/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $76,000/year in Dallas, TX — a difference of about $4,000. 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. A four-person household runs about $7,857/month in Arlington and $8,133/month in Dallas, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

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	Arlington73	Dallas64
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,111	$4,286
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,857	$8,133
Salary for comfort	$72,000/yr	$76,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,931
Median home value	$276,400	$295,300
Median household income	$73,519	$67,760
Unemployment	4.1%	4.1%
Housing score	60	43
Jobs score	58	55
Safety score	65	39
Climate score	96	92
Amenities score	73	78
Population	394.8K	1.3M
Summer high / winter low	94° / 35°	96° / 37°

Arlington, TX vs Dallas, TX