Rockwell City, IA vs Dallas, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Dallas, TX has a modeled overall cost index 32.3% higher than Rockwell City, IA.

Rockwell City, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Dallas, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,765 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Rockwell City, IA and Dallas, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,205/month in Dallas, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $176,459 in Dallas, TX

Regional cost estimates: Rockwell City, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Dallas, TX uses Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 32.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,205
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$26.5K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Rockwell City, IA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
76.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$136K

Dallas, TX

Population:1304K
Cost Index:
101.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$292K

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Rockwell City, IA

The Hawkeye State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Dallas, TX

The Lone Star State

1.3M
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax
Climate
Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

  • •Major business center
  • •No state income tax
  • •Big Tex home

Major Industries

TechnologyFinanceEnergyTransportation

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Rockwell City, IA vs Dallas, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 50.7%
Rockwell City, IA
$2,017
Dallas, TX
$3,038
Difference
$1,022
more
Other
↑ 30.2%
Rockwell City, IA
$1,732
Dallas, TX
$2,255
Difference
$523
more
Transportation
↑ 23.1%
Rockwell City, IA
$1,340
Dallas, TX
$1,649
Difference
$309
more
Groceries
↑ 16.9%
Rockwell City, IA
$1,064
Dallas, TX
$1,244
Difference
$180
more
All Utilities
↑ 30.1%
Rockwell City, IA
$550
Dallas, TX
$715
Difference
$165
more
Healthcare
↑ 0.7%
Rockwell City, IA
$798
Dallas, TX
$803
Difference
$5.49
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$1,450
↑ $720
1 Bed
From$780
To$1,505
↑ $725
2 Bed
From$980
To$1,765
↑ $785
3 Bed
From$1,240
To$2,220
↑ $980
Rockwell City, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Dallas, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,040–$2,470/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Rockwell City, IA
$9,705
Monthly in Dallas, TX
$2,205
Difference

Home Values

Rockwell City
Dallas
$136K
Median Value
$292K
↑ +2.3%
YoY Change
↓ -3.1%
↑ +34.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.1%
$136K
Price Range
$138K - $2.01M

Homes in Dallas are 116% more expensive than Rockwell City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $10.7K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$892
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
7.1%
Rate difference

Rockwell City, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Dallas, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Rockwell City, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Dallas, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Rockwell City
Dallas
45 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
67.5%
Good Air Days
35.2%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
90 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
90 days

Before moving from Rockwell City, IA to Dallas, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Dallas, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Rockwell City, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Rockwell City to Dallas moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Dallas, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Rockwell City, IA vs Dallas, TX

How do the cost estimates for Rockwell City, IA and Dallas, TX compare?

Dallas, TX has a modeled overall cost index 32.3% higher than Rockwell City, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Rockwell City, IA, the model estimates $176,459 in Dallas, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Rockwell City, IA and Dallas, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Rockwell City, IA and $1,765/month in Dallas, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

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