Average Rent in Dallas, TX↑ Rents rising 7.2% YoY🔺 2nd priciest in TX

Dallas, TX has rental prices ranging from $1,531/month to $3,033/month in 2025, depending on unit size. The typical 1-bedroom apartment rents for $1,606/month — 15% above the national average of $1,400/month. With a median household income of $87,155/year, spending $1,606/month on a 1-bedroom represents 22% of gross income — within the recommended 30% threshold.

How Dallas Compares

With an average 2-bedroom rent of $1,884/month, Dallas ranks #2 most expensive of the 220 cities tracked in Texas — pricier than 97% of all US cities in our data.

The Dallas Rental Market

The Dallas, TX area has a population of about 7,807,555 and 40% of households renting rather than owning. That renter share runs above the US average of ~34%, pointing to a competitive rental market where vacancies clear quickly and rents are less negotiable.

Rent Trends

2-bedroom rents in Dallas, TX have risen by $126/month (7.2%) over the past year, from $1,758 to $1,884. This modest growth is consistent with broader inflationary trends seen across US rental markets.

Affordability

To afford a 1-bedroom apartment in Dallas, TX without exceeding the 30% housing cost guideline, a renter needs an annual income of approximately $64,240. The local median household income of $87,155 exceeds that threshold by $22,915, making Dallas relatively accessible compared to local wages.

Rent vs. Buy

The median home value in Dallas, TX is $312,024, giving a price-to-rent ratio of 13.8. The break-even point between renting and buying is roughly 14 years — renting offers more flexibility for shorter stays, while buying makes more sense for long-term residents.

Safety

Crime statistics for Dallas, TX show a violent crime rate of 416.13 per 100,000 residents (elevated) and a property crime rate of 2272.64 per 100,000 residents (moderate). As with any metro area, crime rates vary widely by neighborhood — prospective renters are encouraged to research specific areas within Dallas before signing a lease.

Neighborhoods

Home values — and by extension rent levels — vary significantly across Dallas's neighborhoods. Among the highest-value areas are Northwest Dallas ($231,753 median home value), City Center District ($253,513 median home value), Dells District ($265,503 median home value). Rental prices typically follow home value patterns, with premium neighborhoods commanding higher rents than outer areas. Renters on a tighter budget may find better value in less central neighborhoods or in adjacent metros with lower overall rent levels.

Is Dallas, TX Affordable?

Income needed to rent or buy, price history, and how this city compares to nearby metros.

Rent or Buy in Dallas?

Break-even analysis and mortgage estimates based on local market data.

Living in Dallas

Cost of living, job market, crime rates, and moving cost estimates.