CostIndexUSA

Dallas, TX vs Riverside, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Dallas
103.1
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Dallas is slightly cheaper than Riverside — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dallas, you would need $82,600 in Riverside. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.7%
Dallas
117.9
Riverside
129.3
🛒 Groceries1.4%
Dallas
102.8
Riverside
101.4
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Dallas
104.7
Riverside
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.6%
Dallas
94.7
Riverside
96.2
Utilities+63.8%
Dallas
90.7
Riverside
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Riverside, CA
$82,600
$2,600 more needed in Riverside

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 1.0320. 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×

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Riverside has 9.7% higher housing costs compared to Dallas.

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

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

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)

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.