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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Tustin, CA costs about 29% more than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.48 $25.48

$19.80 $19.80

28.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.6 $83.6

$79.8 $79.8

4.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 $10.08

$11.99 $11.99

-15.93%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$5.54 $5.54

-0.54%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.63 $2.63

5.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.19 $2.19

-9.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$6.44 $6.44

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$7.15 $7.15

-1.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.99 $0.99

15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.74 $3.74

15.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.78 $4.78

1.26%

Eggs

$4.62 $4.62

$4.13 $4.13

11.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 $12.38

$13.29 $13.29

-6.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$14.20 $14.20

-19.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$17.76 $17.76

-19.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.90 $4.90

-19.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.48 $1.48

31.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.29 $4.29

-11.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.93 $3.93

41.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.26 $2.26

45.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.06 $3.06

-0.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.91 $1.91

2.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.31 $2.31

-5.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.81 $9.81

13.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.25 $15.25

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.10 $2.10

-18.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$5.00 $5.00

-9.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.96 $2.96

-30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.45 $33.45

$92.2 $92.2

-63.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.92 $2.92

3.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.72 $1.72

5.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.18 $30.18

$23.90 $23.90

26.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.77 $0.77

61.04%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$35.7K $35.7K

-20.97%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$27.6K $27.6K

-1.82%

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

$224 $224

$213 $213

5.03%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$76.9 $76.9

-30.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$73.4 $73.4

-2.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.0 $99.0

$42.24 $42.24

134.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.06 $25.06

$17.99 $17.99

39.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.15 $14.15

$12.83 $12.83

10.29%

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

$1,443 $1,443

$1,171 $1,171

23.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$27.0K $27.0K

13.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$54.9 $54.9

23.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.84 $40.84

$51.4 $51.4

-20.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$110 $110

-21.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$127 $127

20.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,014 $3,014

$1,692 $1,692

78.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,340 $2,340

$1,439 $1,439

62.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,520 $4,520

$3,493 $3,493

29.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,736 $3,736

$2,570 $2,570

45.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,841 $7,841

$8,903 $8,903

-11.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,331 $5,331

$3,124 $3,124

70.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,780 $4,780

$4,627 $4,627

3.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.36

3.46%

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

Last update for Tustin, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dallas, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,014 in Tustin, CA versus $1,692 in Dallas, TX. 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 $84.0 in Tustin, CA versus $80.0 in Dallas, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $402 in Tustin, CA vs $417 in Dallas, TX – 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

Tustin, CA vs Dallas, TX: 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 $5,589 per month in Tustin, CA and $4,348 in Dallas, TX. 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 $1,443 per month in Tustin, CA and $1,171 in Dallas, TX. 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 $3,726 in Tustin, CA and $2,899 in Dallas, TX. 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.