Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Hennepin County, MN would need to be about $51,670 in Dallas County, TX, or $1,670 more, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Hennepin County, MN vs Dallas County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hennepin County, MN is cheaper than Dallas County, TX.
Moving to Dallas County, TX is estimated to cost $1,728 more per year.
Cheaper County
Hennepin County, MNSpend $1,728 more per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Hennepin County, MN is about $51,670 in Dallas County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Housing increases by $2,405 per year. Food saves $1,154 per year.
Housing: $2,405 higher in Dallas County, TX
Taxes: $1,101 lower in Dallas County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,150 higher in Dallas County, TX
Food: $1,154 lower in Dallas County, TX
Transport: $40 higher in Dallas County, TX
Hennepin County, MN→Dallas County, TX
Equivalent salary in Dallas County, TX
$51,670
+3.34% higher
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Hennepin County, MN: $131,862
Median Income in Dallas County, TX: $85,452
Living Index in Hennepin County, MN 39.28%
Living Index in Dallas County, TX 62.63%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Hennepin County, MN to Dallas County, TX.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Hennepin County, MN to Dallas County, TX is estimated to cost $1,728 more per year. To maintain similar purchasing power, a $50,000 salary in Hennepin County, MN would need to be about $51,670 in Dallas County, TX. The biggest increase is housing, followed by healthcare.
This is a 3.34% increase in modeled annual costs. Housing is $2,405 per year higher (16.03%); Healthcare is $1,150 per year higher (27.02%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Hennepin County, MN and Dallas County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 39.3% of median family income in Hennepin County, MN and 62.6% in Dallas County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $2,405 per year higher in Dallas County, TX than in Hennepin County, MN. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Dallas County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,154 per year lower in Dallas County, TX than in Hennepin County, MN. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Dallas County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $40 per year higher in Dallas County, TX than in Hennepin County, MN. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Dallas County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,150 per year higher in Dallas County, TX than in Hennepin County, MN. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Dallas County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $389 per year higher in Dallas County, TX than in Hennepin County, MN. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Dallas County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Hennepin County, MN and Dallas County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Dallas County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,101 per year lower in Dallas County, TX than in Hennepin County, MN. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Dallas County, TX matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Dallas County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Dallas County, TX
Annual Increase:
$2,405 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual increase when moving to Dallas County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Dallas County, TX
Annual Savings:
$1,154 per year
FOOD has the largest annual savings when moving to Dallas County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 16% higher | |
| Food | -23% lower | |
| Transport | 0% higher | |
| Healthcare | 27% higher | |
| Other Costs | 6% higher | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -11% lower |
In Dallas County, TX, modeled annual costs are $53,517 compared with $51,789 in Hennepin County, MN.
Overall, annual costs are higher in Dallas County, TX. The category breakdown above shows whether housing, taxes, transportation, healthcare, food, childcare, or other necessities are driving the increase.
In this case Dallas County, TX and Hennepin County, MN are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
