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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,899 per month in Dallas, TX vs $3,726 in Tustin, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,404 per month in Dallas, TX vs $5,320 in Tustin, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,910 per month in Dallas, TX vs $6,915 in Tustin, CA, rent included.

Dallas, TX is about 22% cheaper than Tustin, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Dallas, TX and Tustin, CA sit above the global median – Dallas, TX by 116%, Tustin, CA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.80 $19.80

$25.48 $25.48

-22.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.8 $79.8

$83.6 $83.6

-4.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.99 $11.99

$10.08 $10.08

18.95%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.51 $5.51

0.54%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.78 $2.78

-5.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.98 $1.98

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.44 $6.44

$6.90 $6.90

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.15 $7.15

$7.07 $7.07

1.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.14 $1.14

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.33 $4.33

-13.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.84 $4.84

-1.24%

Eggs

$4.13 $4.13

$4.62 $4.62

-10.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$12.38 $12.38

7.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$11.39 $11.39

24.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.76 $17.76

$14.31 $14.31

24.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.95 $3.95

24.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.94 $1.94

-23.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.79 $3.79

13.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.57 $5.57

-29.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.28 $3.28

-31.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.05 $3.05

0.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.96 $1.96

-2.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.18 $2.18

5.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$11.10 $11.10

-11.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$15.28 $15.28

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.71 $1.71

22.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.54 $4.54

10.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.06 $2.06

43.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$92.2 $92.2

$33.45 $33.45

175.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.02 $3.02

-3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.81 $1.81

-4.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 $23.90

$30.18 $30.18

-20.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.24 $1.24

-37.90%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$28.2K $28.2K

26.53%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$27.1K $27.1K

1.85%

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

$213 $213

$224 $224

-4.79%

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

$76.9 $76.9

$53.7 $53.7

43.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$71.3 $71.3

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$99.0 $99.0

-57.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.99 $17.99

$25.06 $25.06

-28.21%

Cinema Ticket

$12.83 $12.83

$14.15 $14.15

-9.33%

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

$1,171 $1,171

$1,443 $1,443

-18.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K $27.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

-11.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$68.1 $68.1

-19.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$40.84 $40.84

25.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$86.2 $86.2

27.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$153 $153

-16.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 $1,692

$3,014 $3,014

-43.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$2,340 $2,340

-38.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,493 $3,493

$4,520 $4,520

-22.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,570 $2,570

$3,736 $3,736

-31.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,903 $8,903

$7,841 $7,841

13.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,124 $3,124

$5,331 $5,331

-41.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,627 $4,627

$4,780 $4,780

-3.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.58

-3.34%

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

Last update for Dallas, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tustin, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,692 in Dallas, TX versus $3,014 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 3% 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 $80.0 in Dallas, TX versus $84.0 in Tustin, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $417 in Dallas, TX vs $402 in Tustin, CA – so Tustin, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 29% 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 $4,348 per month in Dallas, TX and $5,589 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 $1,171 per month in Dallas, TX and $1,443 in Tustin, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Tustin, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,899 in Dallas, TX and $3,726 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 $2,899 versus $3,726 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.