Terminal Reality, Inc.

Cost of Living

 

Living Expenses

The Little Things We Take for Granted

As a place to live, the Dallas–Ft. Worth Metroplex is already very appealing; it’s a culturally rich, outdoor-friendly, and socially active environment. When you consider the critical cost of living factor, it moves to the top of the list. Texas residents pay low utility bills, no state or local income tax, and enjoy a cost-of-living index that falls way below the national average. Housing is plentiful, attractive, and almost unbelievably affordable. The Metroplex really shines as a smartest choice to work, play, reside, and raise a family.

 

Cost of Living Calculator

The Numbers Don’t Lie

This tool, provided by Sperling’s Best Places, helps analyze living expenses such as taxes, housing and food, and many other categories, in two locations, side-by-side. We recommend trying both Dallas and Fort Worth-Arlington when using the Cost of Living Calculator to gain a broader interpretation of the expansive Metroplex area. For another perspective we suggest you try Moving.com’s Compare Two Cities tool to compare Lewisville, TX to your own place of residence to really break down how things are different here. In the table below we’ve highlighted some comparisons between here and other major metropolitan areas.

 
Finance and Economies New York City, NY Los Angeles, CA Seattle, WA Chicago, IL Irving, TX
Cost of Living Index
higher value = higher cost of living (100 = national average) 		159 147 149 116 96
Sales Tax Rate
total sales tax 		8.80% 9.75% 8.90% 9.00% 8.25%
State Income Taxes 10.50% 9.30% 0.00% 3.00% 0.00%
Real Estate New York City, NY Los Angeles, CA Seattle, WA Chicago, IL Irving, TX
Home Purchase Cost
average cost of 2,000 sq ft home 		$884,000 $1,252,000 $575,000 $474,500 $216,000
Property Tax
average annual property tax for a $250,000 home based on the current local rate 		$1,720 $1,933 $2,665 $4,025 $4,460
Median Home Age
in years 		58.8 47.8 51.9 59.3 28.2
Census New York City, NY Los Angeles, CA Seattle, WA Chicago, IL Irving, TX
Population
1995 census population (published 1996) 		8,435,564 3,958,251 604,722 2,856,330 200,791
Population Density
people per square mile 		27,441 8,413 7,184 12,444 3,003
Climate New York City, NY Los Angeles, CA Seattle, WA Chicago, IL Irving, TX
Avg. Low in January 25.8°F 49.8°F 36.7°F 18.4°F 33.9°F
Avg. High in July 86°F 77°F 75°F 83°F 96°F
Precipitation Days
number of days with a measurable amount of precipitation 		113 26 155 124 77
Sunny Days
number of days that are predominately sunny 		224 284 152 189 233
Annual Rain Fall
in inches 		46.4 18.1 35.9 35.9 32.5
Annual Snow Fall
in inches 		23.6 0 11 27.5 2.8
Source: Data compiled from Sterling’s Best Places Cost of Living Comparison Tool with some additional data provided by Moving.com’s Compare Two Cities Tool.

This table is provided provided as a convenience and we strive to keep it up to date. You are encouraged to perform your own research in addition to the information provided above.