Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Tustin, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Dallas, TX: $2,885 a month against $4,309 in Tustin, CA, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

141

Cost of Living Index in Dallas, TX
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Dallas, TX Living Index
210

Cost of Living Index in Tustin, CA
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Tustin, CA Living Index

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Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,885

/mo nomad

Tustin, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,309

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dallas, TX and in Tustin, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dallas, TX and in Tustin, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,885 per month in Dallas, TX vs $4,309 in Tustin, CA, rent included.

Dallas, TX $2,885
Tustin, CA $4,309

A couple spends around $4,299 per month in Dallas, TX vs $5,936 in Tustin, CA, rent included.

Dallas, TX $4,299
Tustin, CA $5,936

A family of three spends $5,713 per month in Dallas, TX vs $7,563 in Tustin, CA, rent included.

Dallas, TX $5,713
Tustin, CA $7,563

Dallas, TX is about 33% cheaper than Tustin, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Dallas, TX and Tustin, CA sit above the global median – Dallas, TX by 113%, Tustin, CA by 218%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.74 $20.74

$25.14 $25.14

-17.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.7 $91.7

$69.5 $69.5

31.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$15.07 $15.07

-21.83%

Cappuccino

$6.01 $6.01

$5.73 $5.73

4.89%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$3.06 $3.06

5.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.30 $2.30

5.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$7.26 $7.26

9.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$9.74 $9.74

-16.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.20 $1.20

-14.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$5.12 $5.12

-39.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.78 $4.78

0.42%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.86 $4.86

-2.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 $13.33

$15.67 $15.67

-14.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.02 $11.02

$13.43 $13.43

-17.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.46 $18.46

$15.17 $15.17

21.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.60 $4.60

26.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.48 $2.48

-37.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.08 $4.08

19.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.76 $5.76

-27.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$3.67 $3.67

-34.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.18 $3.18

1.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.09 $2.09

-8.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.71 $2.71

4.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.22 $10.22

$11.57 $11.57

-11.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 $15.70

$14.83 $14.83

5.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.44 $2.44

38.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.38 $4.38

4.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.05 $2.05

48.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$125 $125

$34.59 $34.59

262.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.18 $3.18

-3.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.81 $1.81

-2.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.72 $23.72

$29.77 $29.77

-20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.50 $1.50

-34.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$29.3K $29.3K

24.11%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.5K $26.5K

1.91%

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

$191 $191

$214 $214

-10.91%

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

$60.7 $60.7

$86.6 $86.6

-29.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.9 $64.9

$71.9 $71.9

-9.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 $60.1

$96.4 $96.4

-37.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.21 $20.21

$25.25 $25.25

-19.96%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$17.30 $17.30

-14.28%

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

$2,112 $2,112

$1,465 $1,465

44.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K $24.8K

$30.5K $30.5K

-18.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 $64.7

$72.4 $72.4

-10.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.24 $49.24

$41.10 $41.10

19.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$105 $105

14.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$147 $147

-8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,748 $1,748

$3,131 $3,131

-44.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 $1,391

$2,741 $2,741

-49.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,747 $3,747

$4,420 $4,420

-15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$4,160 $4,160

-43.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,379 $9,379

$7,723 $7,723

21.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,190 $3,190

$5,320 $5,320

-40.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 $4,481

$4,945 $4,945

-9.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.86

6.64

3.31%

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

Last update for Dallas, TX: October 17, 2026

Last update for Tustin, CA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Dallas, TX

$1.4K 48.2%

Tustin, CA

$2.7K 63.6% 97% $1.3K

Groceries & Markets

Dallas, TX

$421 14.6%

Tustin, CA

$453 10.5% 7.7% $32

Eating Out

Dallas, TX

$352 12.2%

Tustin, CA

$392 9.1% 11.4% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dallas, TX

$316 11%

Tustin, CA

$372 8.6% 17.8% $56

Clothing & Footwear

Dallas, TX

$166 5.8%

Tustin, CA

$165 3.8% 0.7% $1.2

Getting Around

Dallas, TX

$149 5.2%

Tustin, CA

$55 1.3% 63.2% $94

Sport & Entertainment

Dallas, TX

$90 3.1%

Tustin, CA

$131 3% 46% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,748 in Dallas, TX versus $3,131 in Tustin, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Tustin, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Dallas, TX versus $69.0 in Tustin, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $421 in Dallas, TX vs $453 in Tustin, CA – so Dallas, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 Tustin, CA

🕒 Local time

09:23 9:23 AM

07:23 7:23 AM

2 h behind Dallas, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,302,638

69,665

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dallas, TX Tustin, CA 1,950 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Dallas, TX
Tustin, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tustin, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tustin, CA costs about 49% more than Dallas, TX, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,328 per month in Dallas, TX and $6,464 in Tustin, 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.

Kindergarten costs $2,112 per month in Dallas, TX and $1,465 in Tustin, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Tustin, 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 $2,885 in Dallas, TX and $4,309 in Tustin, 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 $2,885 versus $4,309 in Tustin, 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, Tustin, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.