CostIndexUSA

Dallas, TX vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostTX
Dallas
103.1
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Dallas and Philadelphia have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing4.1%
Dallas
117.9
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries5.8%
Dallas
102.8
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Dallas
104.7
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Dallas
94.7
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities+26.1%
Dallas
90.7
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Dallas to see what you'd need to earn in Philadelphia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$79,600
$400 less needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.9952. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Dallas, TX

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Dallas has 4.1% lower housing costs compared to Philadelphia.

Income & Job Market

Dallas, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
1,304,379
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyHealthcareTelecommunicationsReal Estate

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Dallas, TX
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.