CostIndexUSA

Dallas, TX vs Salem, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostTX
Dallas
103.1
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Dallas and Salem have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.4%
Dallas
117.9
Salem
110.3
🛒 Groceries+2.4%
Dallas
102.8
Salem
105.3
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Dallas
104.7
Salem
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Dallas
94.7
Salem
95.3
Utilities+15.4%
Dallas
90.7
Salem
104.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salem, OR
$80,400
$400 more needed in Salem

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 1.0048. 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×

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Dallas has 6.4% lower housing costs compared to Salem.

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

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.