Head to head
Dallas, TX vs Fresno, CA
Fresno is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $103/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $3,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Dallas is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Dallas62 | Fresno60 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,440 | $4,337 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,268 | $10,525 |
| Salary for comfort | $78,500/yr | $82,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,931 | $1,664 |
| Median home value | $295,300 | $348,500 |
| Median household income | $67,760 | $66,804 |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 6.2% |
| Housing score | 41 | 36 |
| Jobs score | 49 | 30 |
| Safety score | 39 | 68 |
| Climate score | 92 | 88 |
| Amenities score | 78 | 49 |
| Population | 1.3M | 543.6K |
| Summer high / winter low | 96° / 37° | 98° / 38° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Dallas, TX
Fresno, CA