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 $4,317 per month in Tustin, CA vs $3,016 in Dallas, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,930 per month in Tustin, CA vs $4,438 in Dallas, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,544 per month in Tustin, CA vs $5,859 in Dallas, TX, rent included.

Tustin, CA costs about 43% more than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tustin, CA and Dallas, TX sit above the global median – Tustin, CA by 214%, Dallas, TX by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.81 $24.81

$21.63 $21.63

14.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.3 $69.3

$89.6 $89.6

-22.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.79 $14.79

$12.17 $12.17

21.53%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$6.34 $6.34

-8.04%

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

$3.68 $3.68

$3.04 $3.04

21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.41 $2.41

-1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.03 $8.03

$7.83 $7.83

2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.10 $8.10

9.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.03 $1.03

15.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.49 $3.49

31.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.62 $4.62

33.98%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$4.82 $4.82

1.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.79 $19.79

$13.28 $13.28

49.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.51 $14.51

$11.21 $11.21

29.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 $15.25

$18.27 $18.27

-16.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.84 $5.84

-8.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.90 $4.90

-14.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.71 $6.71

$4.06 $4.06

65.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.33 $2.33

50.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.11 $3.11

14.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.95 $1.95

22.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.85 $2.85

-4.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.50 $11.50

$10.01 $10.01

14.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$15.73 $15.73

-4.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.36 $3.36

-31.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.66 $4.66

-5.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.93 $2.93

-30.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.54 $34.54

$127 $127

-72.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.08 $3.08

3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.72 $1.72

8.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.61 $35.61

$23.65 $23.65

50.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 $1.44

$0.92 $0.92

56.52%

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

$37.7K $37.7K

$35.7K $35.7K

5.50%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

-8.96%

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

$239 $239

$199 $199

20.49%

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

$75.2 $75.2

$66.0 $66.0

13.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$69.3 $69.3

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 $100

$56.4 $56.4

77.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.28 $25.28

$20.24 $20.24

24.90%

Cinema Ticket

$14.23 $14.23

$14.71 $14.71

-3.26%

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

$1,459 $1,459

$2,124 $2,124

-31.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.9K $36.9K

$24.2K $24.2K

52.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 $74.0

$62.5 $62.5

18.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.02 $41.02

$48.46 $48.46

-15.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 $78.4

$122 $122

-35.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$140 $140

7.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,043 $3,043

$1,768 $1,768

72.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,750 $2,750

$1,450 $1,450

89.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,404 $4,404

$3,836 $3,836

14.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,073 $4,073

$2,433 $2,433

67.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,882 $7,882

$9,275 $9,275

-15.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,388 $5,388

$3,125 $3,125

72.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,810 $4,810

$4,507 $4,507

6.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.34

-1.58%

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

Last update for Tustin, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Dallas, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,043 in Tustin, CA versus $1,768 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 7% 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 $69.0 in Tustin, CA versus $90.0 in Dallas, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $477 in Tustin, CA vs $425 in Dallas, TX – so Dallas, TX 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 43% 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 $6,475 per month in Tustin, CA and $4,524 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 $1,459 per month in Tustin, CA and $2,124 in Dallas, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $4,317 in Tustin, CA and $3,016 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 $3,016 versus $4,317 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.