Dallas vs Los Angeles: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Dallas's homes carry a median value of $270,700, which is 67% lower than the $822,600 median value in Los Angeles.

On median household income, Dallas posts $63,985 while Los Angeles posts $76,244.

Renters pay a median $1,305 in Dallas versus $1,791 in Los Angeles.

FEMA's National Risk Index puts both cities at "Very High" for overall natural-hazard risk.

Metric	Dallas, TX	Los Angeles, CA
Population	1,300,642	3,881,041
Median home value	$270,700	$822,600
Median household income	$63,985	$76,244
Median gross rent	$1,305	$1,791
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Very High

Both home values and rent run lower in Dallas, TX than in Los Angeles, CA, making it the more affordable of the two on housing alone.

Moving between Dallas and Los Angeles

Dallas and Los Angeles are 1,249 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Dallas → Los Angeles	Los Angeles → Dallas
Median rent	+$486/mo (+37%)	−$486/mo (−27%)
Median home value	+$551,900 (+204%)	−$551,900 (−67%)
Median household income	+$12,259 (+19%)	−$12,259 (−16%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$1,659 – $2,641
2-3 bedroom	$3,783 – $5,962
4+ bedroom house	$6,312 – $9,904

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA

1,436 miles estimated driving distance · 23.9 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$1,808 – $2,302

Includes an estimated $503 in fuel (144 gal at ~10 mpg) over 3 driving days.

Professional Movers

$6,734 – $12,479

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.