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Cost of Living · Texas

Arlington Cost of Living

Arlington, Texas costs approximately 5.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.95×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Arlington ranks 8 of 12 cities in Texas by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Arlington (67)
San Francisco, CA
+52.6% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+42.1% more expensive
New York City, NY
+38.9% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+36.8% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+36.8% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+28.4% more expensive
Boston, MA
+28.4% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+27.4% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+26.3% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+26.3% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+24.2% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+24.2% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+24.2% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+24.2% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+21.1% more expensive
Miami, FL
+17.9% more expensive
Portland, OR
+15.8% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+15.8% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+15.8% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+15.8% more expensive
Denver, CO
+13.7% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+10.5% more expensive
Austin, TX
+10.5% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+10.5% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+10.5% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+10.5% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+10.5% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+10.5% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+9.5% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+9.5% more expensive
Plano, TX
+9.5% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+9.5% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+7.4% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+7.4% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+7.4% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+7.4% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+7.4% more expensive
Reno, NV
+7.4% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+7.4% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+7.4% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+7.4% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+6.3% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+5.3% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+5.3% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+5.3% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+5.3% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+5.3% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+5.3% more expensive
Boise, ID
+5.3% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+5.3% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+5.3% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+4.2% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+4.2% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+4.2% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+4.2% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+4.2% more expensive
Madison, WI
+4.2% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+3.2% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+2.1% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+2.1% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+2.1% more expensive
Houston, TX
+1.1% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+1.1% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+1.1% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+1.1% more expensive
Garland, TX
+1.1% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Arlington (30)
Milwaukee, WI
−1.1% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−1.1% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−1.1% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−2.1% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−2.1% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−3.2% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−3.2% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−3.2% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−3.2% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−3.2% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−3.2% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−3.2% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−3.2% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−3.2% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−4.2% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−4.2% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−4.2% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−4.2% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−5.3% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−5.3% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−5.3% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−6.3% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−6.3% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−6.3% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−7.4% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−7.4% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−7.4% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−9.5% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−9.5% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−9.5% cheaper

What living in Arlington costs

At 0.95x national costs, Arlington is more expensive than 30 and cheaper than 67 of the 99 other metros here. In practical terms that is $1,150 a month for a one-bedroom and roughly $300,000 to buy.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 22, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Arlington is a metro of roughly 7.9M and growing steadily, running on entertainment/sports, manufacturing, higher education. Larger employers include General Motors Arlington Assembly, AT&T Stadium/Dallas Cowboys, Six Flags Over Texas.

Texas levies no state income tax and Arlington adds no local one, so the only income tax withheld here is federal. That is worth several thousand dollars a year against a comparable salary in a taxing state — though property and sales taxes in no-income-tax states tend to run above average, so the advantage narrows once you buy.

Getting around: Arlington is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Humid subtropical: January highs near 56°F/lows 35°F, July highs near 96°F/lows 75°F, hot and humid summers.

No state income tax; for decades Arlington was the largest US city (~400k+) without a fixed-route public bus system, and still relies mainly on an on-demand rideshare transit service (Via) rather than fixed routes.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arlington expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, roughly average — the cost index is 0.95x, above 30 and below 67 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,150 a month and the median home $300,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Arlington?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,150 a month implies about $46,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.