Dallas vs Houston: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Dallas's homes carry a median value of $270,700, which is 15% higher than the $235,000 median value in Houston.

On median household income, Dallas posts $63,985 while Houston posts $60,440.

On median rent, Dallas runs $1,305 while Houston runs $1,235.

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

Metric	Dallas, TX	Houston, TX
Population	1,300,642	2,296,253
Median home value	$270,700	$235,000
Median household income	$63,985	$60,440
Median gross rent	$1,305	$1,235
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Very High

Housing is cheaper across the board in Houston, TX compared with Dallas, TX: lower home values, lower rent. Other cost-of-living factors aren't reflected here.

Moving between Dallas and Houston

Dallas and Houston are 223 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Dallas → Houston	Houston → Dallas
Median rent	−$70/mo (−5%)	+$70/mo (+6%)
Median home value	−$35,700 (−13%)	+$35,700 (+15%)
Median household income	−$3,545 (−6%)	+$3,545 (+6%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$658 – $1,014
2-3 bedroom	$1,895 – $2,894
4+ bedroom house	$3,448 – $5,249

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 Houston, TX

257 miles estimated driving distance · 4.3 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$384 – $490

Includes an estimated $90 in fuel (26 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$1,944 – $3,268

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.