True Cost of Renting in Dallas

Dallas is Texas's financial and corporate headquarters city — home to more Fortune 500 companies per capita than almost anywhere in the US. Uptown's walkable density is the exception in a metro built around highways. Oncor distributes electricity, but Texas deregulation means you choose your own retail provider — plan selection is critical for managing summer utility costs.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Uptown / Turtle Creek

Studio:
$1,600/mo
1 Bed:
$2,000/mo
2 Bed:
$2,800/mo

Dallas's most walkable neighborhood; McKinney Avenue, West Village, and the McKinney Avenue Trolley. Luxury high-rises and mid-rises with resort pools and fitness centers. Amenity packages ($75–125/mo), valet trash ($25–35/mo), and garage parking ($100–200/mo) add significantly to base rent.

Deep Ellum

Studio:
$1,400/mo
1 Bed:
$1,800/mo
2 Bed:
$2,400/mo

Historic entertainment district east of Downtown; live music, galleries, and independent restaurants. Mix of converted loft buildings and new mid-rises. Street parking is often metered — building parking runs $75–150/mo. DART light rail nearby at Good Latimer station.

Lower Greenville / M Streets

Studio:
$1,200/mo
1 Bed:
$1,700/mo
2 Bed:
$2,300/mo

Mid-century bungalow neighborhoods east of Central Expressway; Lower Greenville Ave bar and restaurant strip anchors the area. Mix of older apartment buildings with lower rents and some newer infill. Free street parking in most residential blocks.

Utility Providers

Electric
Oncor (distribution) — retail provider choice required
Water
Dallas Water Utilities
Internet
AT&T Fiber, Spectrum, Frontier Fiber

Commute & Transportation

Dallas is a freeway city — I-35E, US-75 (Central Expressway), I-635 (LBJ Freeway), and the Dallas North Tollway form the primary commuter corridors. The DART light rail system (Red, Blue, Orange, Green lines) is the most extensive light rail network in the US by track miles, connecting Downtown to Uptown (McKinney Ave Trolley), Deep Ellum, Mockingbird Lane, North Park, Addison, and Plano. A DART monthly pass is $96, making it competitive with parking costs in Uptown. Major employment centers include the CBD, Uptown, the Galleria corridor, and the Las Colinas office park in Irving (DFW Airport adjacent). DFW International Airport is 25 miles northwest of Downtown via SR-114 or I-635.

Rental Market Overview

Dallas rent growth was among the nation's highest from 2021–2023, peaking in Uptown and Knox-Henderson. A massive wave of apartment supply delivered in 2024–2025 has moderated growth and in some submarkets pushed concessions (one month free, reduced deposits). Dallas rents are lower than comparable Austin neighborhoods, making it attractive to price-sensitive transplants. Texas deregulated electricity is critical — Oncor distributes power but you choose your retail provider. Fixed-rate plans from Reliant, TXU, or Green Mountain Energy provide summer bill predictability. Without a fixed plan, August bills in a 1BR can exceed $350. Renters insurance averages $18–28/month.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Dallas

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Renting in Dallas: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Dallas?
One-bedroom apartments in Dallas range from $1,700/month in Lower Greenville / M Streets to $2,000/month in Uptown / Turtle Creek. Two-bedroom units range from $2,300 to $2,800/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Dallas?
In Dallas, electricity is provided by Oncor (distribution) — retail provider choice required, water by Dallas Water Utilities, and common internet providers include AT&T Fiber, Spectrum, Frontier Fiber. TX deregulates electricity, so Oncor only owns the wires — you pick your own retail electric plan. Compare fixed-rate plans before your first summer bill; a bad variable-rate plan can double what a fixed one costs.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Dallas?
Lower Greenville / M Streets is the most affordable of the 3 Dallas neighborhoods covered here, at $1,700/month for a one-bedroom — $300 less than Uptown / Turtle Creek, roughly a 15% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Dallas expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Dallas runs about $1,833/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Dallas rent growth was among the nation's highest from 2021–2023, peaking in Uptown and Knox-Henderson. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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