Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Los Gatos, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Los Gatos, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,929 per month in Dallas, TX vs $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,344 per month in Dallas, TX vs $6,905 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,758 per month in Dallas, TX vs $9,245 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

Dallas, TX is about 36% cheaper than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Dallas, TX and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – Dallas, TX by 114%, Los Gatos, CA by 234%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.41 $21.41

$25.03 $25.03

-14.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.8 $89.8

$108 $108

-16.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

Cappuccino

$6.09 $6.09

$5.90 $5.90

3.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.04 $3.04

-1.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.83 $7.83

4.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.09 $8.09

-3.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.26 $1.26

-18.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.18 $4.18

-17.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.82 $4.82

-0.62%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$6.56 $6.56

-26.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 $13.37

$23.17 $23.17

-42.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$11.66 $11.66

-5.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$13.20 $13.20

42.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.41 $5.41

12.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.25 $2.25

-31.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$4.91 $4.91

0.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$5.95 $5.95

-30.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$3.32 $3.32

-30.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.11 $3.11

3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.24 $2.24

-12.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.63 $2.63

10.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$7.32 $7.32

38.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$11.77 $11.77

37.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.68 $1.68

107.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.53 $2.53

84.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.01 $3.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$125 $125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.21 $3.21

-7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.37 $2.37

-25.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.22 $24.22

$40.31 $40.31

-39.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.47 $1.47

-32.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.6K $35.6K

$29.6K $29.6K

20.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.6K $28.6K

$25.8K $25.8K

10.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$215 $215

$188 $188

14.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$64.6 $64.6

-3.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$62.8 $62.8

10.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.1 $62.1

$145 $145

-57.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.17 $20.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.12 $15.12

$15.76 $15.76

-4.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,084 $2,084

$2,361 $2,361

-11.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

-0.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 $64.7

$50.9 $50.9

27.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.92 $48.92

$40.37 $40.37

21.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 $124

$73.7 $73.7

68.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$59.6 $59.6

127.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,813 $1,813

$3,524 $3,524

-48.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$3,147 $3,147

-54.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,852 $3,852

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,396 $2,396

$6,033 $6,033

-60.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,513 $9,513

$3,463 $3,463

174.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,119 $3,119

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,583 $4,583

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.25

2.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dallas, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,813 in Dallas, TX versus $3,524 in Los Gatos, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Dallas, TX versus $108 in Los Gatos, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $430 vs $451 – making Dallas, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dallas, TX vs Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Los Gatos, CA costs about 56% more than Dallas, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,394 per month in Dallas, TX and $6,849 in Los Gatos, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dallas, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Dallas, TX and $108 in Los Gatos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Los Gatos, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,929 in Dallas, TX and $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dallas, TX costs $2,929 versus $4,566 in Los Gatos, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dallas, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Gatos, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.