Is It Cheaper to Live in Dallas or Houston?
Housing is 15% cheaper in Houston on typical home value: $295,216 in Dallas against $249,757 in Houston. Typical rent is 1% lower in Houston: $1,572 in Dallas against $1,551 in Houston per month. The ranges overlap: Dallas runs $147,686 to $1,066,305 across its ZIPs and Houston runs $129,187 to $1,722,665, so the cheaper metro on the median still contains neighborhoods dearer than parts of the other.
Key stats
- Typical home value is 15% lower in Houston: $295,216 in Dallas against $249,757 in Houston.
- Typical rent is 1% lower in Houston: $1,572 in Dallas against $1,551 in Houston per month.
- The ranges overlap: Dallas runs $147,686 to $1,066,305 across its ZIPs and Houston runs $129,187 to $1,722,665, so the cheaper metro on the median still contains neighborhoods dearer than parts of the other.
- The income-needed indicator stands at $107,167 for Dallas and $88,863 for Houston, a difference of $18,304.
- Median ZIP home value
- $295,216 / $249,757
- Median ZIP rent
- $1,572 / $1,551
- Tracked ZIP markets
- 40 / 97
What housing costs in Dallas and Houston
Typical home value is 15% lower in Houston: $295,216 in Dallas against $249,757 in Houston.
Typical rent is 1% lower in Houston: $1,572 in Dallas against $1,551 in Houston per month.
Where the two metros actually overlap
The ranges overlap: Dallas runs $147,686 to $1,066,305 across its ZIPs and Houston runs $129,187 to $1,722,665, so the cheaper metro on the median still contains neighborhoods dearer than parts of the other.
A metro median decides nothing on its own: a move lands in one neighborhood, not in the average of all of them, and the ranges above are what a shortlist has to sit inside.
What this comparison does not include
This page compares housing only. Groceries, transport, state and local taxes, insurance, and childcare are not measured here and can move the total either way — in particular, the two metros may sit in states with very different income-tax treatment.
The income-needed indicator stands at $107,167 for Dallas and $88,863 for Houston, a difference of $18,304.
Continue your market research
- Dallas housing marketMetro overview and the full ZIP directory.
- Houston housing marketMetro overview and the full ZIP directory.
- Moving to Dallas: what housing costsThe same figures read from a mover’s side.
- Moving to Houston: what housing costsThe same figures read from a mover’s side.
Sources and method
- HomeMarketCap.com data sources: ZIP and metro housing-market datasets
- HomeMarketCap.com methodology: Metric definitions and calculation rules
Figures are updated monthly by the HomeMarketCap.com team under our editorial policy. Spotted something wrong? Report a correction.
What that costs per month in Dallas
Principal and interest on $295,216, the typical value of the median tracked ZIP. Taxes, insurance, and any association dues are not included.
$1,493 / monthprincipal and interest
An estimate for comparison between markets, not a quote or an offer of credit. Actual payments depend on the rate you are offered, the property, and the loan terms.
What that costs per month in Houston
Principal and interest on $249,757, the typical value of the median tracked ZIP. Taxes, insurance, and any association dues are not included.
$1,263 / monthprincipal and interest
An estimate for comparison between markets, not a quote or an offer of credit. Actual payments depend on the rate you are offered, the property, and the loan terms.