City Comparison
Sacramento vs Dallas
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Dallas scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sacramento
Dallas
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Dallas is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
16% lower than in Sacramento.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sacramento's average rent is
38% higher than Dallas's.
| Metric | Sacramento | Dallas | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,946 | $1,412 | +38% |
| Groceries | $400 | $450 | -11% |
| Utilities | $180 | $281 | -36% |
| Transport | $90 | $126 | -29% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $135 | +70% |
| Monthly Total | $2,846 | $2,404 | +18% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sacramento offers 26% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sacramento delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sacramento is estimated at
$65,000 vs $96,970 in Dallas.
| Metric | Sacramento | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $60,900 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $96,970 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,750 idx | 60,297 idx |
| Household Income | $91,387 | $70,518 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Sacramento | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 55.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
For walkability, Dallas leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sacramento | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 47.0/100 | 60.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 47.00 | 41.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Dallas is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Sacramento.
From a growth perspective, Sacramento is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Dallas has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sacramento | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 536,449 | 1,336,440 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | 0.52% |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 33.4 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 4.30% |
| GDP | $135.5B | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sacramento
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly more affordable than coastal California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose.
Thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene with nationally acclaimed local restaurants and frequent community farmers' markets.
Extensive outdoor recreation access via the 32-mile American River Parkway and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.
Stable, recession-resilient job market anchored by California state government administration and major healthcare systems.
Abundant sunshine and a Mediterranean climate averaging over 260 sunny days per year.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 95°F to 100°F, creating high cooling demands and seasonal heat advisories.
Property crime rates and urban homelessness present ongoing challenges in select downtown and inner-city commercial corridors.
Public transit infrastructure is limited outside of central urban grids, making outer neighborhoods heavily car-dependent.
State income tax rates align with California's top-tier state brackets, impacting high-earning households.
Vulnerability to seasonal wildfire smoke from surrounding foothills during dry summer and autumn months.
Dallas
Advantages
Violent crime in Dallas dropped by 12% in 2025, indicating an improving safety landscape.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is a leader in economic growth, ranking highly for job creation and business investment.
Dallas is recognized as a top city for dining out, offering affordable options for mid-range meals.
Texas has no state income tax, which can lead to higher take-home pay for residents.
The city boasts a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, ranking 27th globally for startups in 2026.
Drawbacks
Property crime remains a significant challenge in Dallas, particularly in certain neighborhoods.
Utility costs in Dallas are higher than the national average, primarily due to electricity expenses.
Dallas experiences notable traffic congestion, with commuters spending considerable time in traffic.
Despite overall metro growth, the city of Dallas experienced a slight population decline in 2025.
While public transit exists, high car dependency is a reality for navigating the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sacramento
#542California, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,946
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
76
Business
72
Dallas
#525Texas, USA
50.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,412
Avg Salary
$60,900
Cost Index
101
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.52%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
80
Business
88
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Sacramento and Dallas.
Open Cost Calculator