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
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