Cost & aidSchoolsWays to payFellowships & scholarshipsPricing

Southern Methodist University · Living here

Cost of living near Southern Methodist University: Dallas, TX

Dallas, Dallas County, TX · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area. Built only from free public data, with each figure's source and year. County figures describe the whole county, not just the neighborhood around campus.

Estimated monthly student budget

Off-campus, sharing a 2-bedroom, 9-month academic year. Estimate, not a quote.

  • Rent + utilities (your half of a 2-bedroom)

    Here $819/moU.S. typical $704/mo
    Source

    ACS county median gross rent for a 2-bedroom (gross rent includes utilities) ÷ 2 roommates

  • Groceries

    Here $353/moU.S. typical $344/mo
    Source

    USDA Thrifty Food Plan (avg of adult female/male 20–50, +20% single-person adjustment) × BEA goods price parity

  • Transportation, phone & personal

    Here $300/moU.S. typical $469/mo
    Source

    College-reported 'other expenses' for off-campus students (Scorecard 2024–25) ÷ 9 months

  • Books & supplies

    Here $89/moU.S. typical n/a
    Source

    College-reported books & supplies ÷ 9 months

  • Total / month$1,561U.S. typical $1,517*

Rent, groceries and other costs here are about $45/month less than the U.S. typical student estimate (excluding books).

*U.S. column uses national ACS 2-bedroom rent, the unadjusted USDA plan, and the median college-reported off-campus “other expenses” across 1,944 colleges; no national books figure. Not included: tuition, health insurance, travel home, furniture/deposits, dining out. On campus instead? The college reports room & board of $19,064 per year ($2,118/month over 9 months).

Source: Estimate built from ACS 2020–2024 (rent), USDA Thrifty Food Plan 2026-08 × BEA goods RPP 2024 (groceries), and the college's own Scorecard 2024–25 cost components.

Cost of living

Prices overall are 3% above the U.S. average (U.S. = 100).

All items103.1
U.S. 100.0
Housing rents117.9
U.S. 100.0
Goods (incl. groceries)102.8
U.S. 100.0
Utilities90.7
U.S. 100.0
Other services99.7
U.S. 100.0

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro

Rent & housing

Studio$1,385
U.S. $1,248
1 bedroom$1,400
U.S. $1,235
2 bedrooms$1,638
U.S. $1,407
All rentals (median)$1,565
U.S. $1,413
On-campus room & board (college, per year)
$19,064
Off-campus room & board (college estimate, per year)
$11,314

ACS medians are 5-year averages and run below today's asking rents in fast-rising markets. HUD Fair Market Rents aren't included yet.

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year, county median gross rent (rent + utilities) by bedrooms; College Scorecard 2024–25 room & board

Getting around

How local workers commute. It's a proxy for transit and walkability, not a Walk Score.

Public transit1.4%
U.S. 3.2%
Walk1.6%
U.S. 2.4%
Bicycle0.1%
U.S. —
Drive alone68.4%
U.S. 68.8%
Work from home15.7%
U.S. —

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024, means of transportation to work (county workers 16+)

Things to do (proxy)

Per 10,000 residents. Business counts are a rough stand-in for nightlife and amenities; they don't measure quality or student-friendliness.

Restaurants, cafés & bars23.1
U.S. 21.3

6,049 establishments in the county

Bars & drinking places0.9
U.S. 1.2

240 in the county (21+ in the U.S.)

Arts, entertainment & recreation3.7
U.S. 5.0

960 venues, gyms, museums, etc.

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023 establishment counts ÷ ACS county population

Groceries & daily needs

Grocery & food stores per 10k residents4.8
U.S. 4.8

Estimated groceries for one student: $353/month (USDA Thrifty plan, adjusted by local goods prices). Cooking more or eating out raises it.

Source: Census CBP 2023 (food & beverage retailers, NAICS 445); USDA Thrifty Food Plan Aug 2026; BEA goods RPP 2024

People

Population
2,621,179
Median age
34.1
U.S. 38.9
Median household income
$76,547
U.S. $80,734
Diversity index
0.71
U.S. 0.61

Diversity index = chance that two random residents differ in race/ethnicity (0–1), from ACS table B03002.

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B01003, B01002, B19013, B03002), county

Healthcare nearby

Hospitals in county
48
Clinics & outpatient providers
6,867

Most colleges require health insurance. International students usually must buy the school plan or show an equivalent.

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 622 hospitals, 621 ambulatory care)

Also check (not in our data yet)

Sources & years

County matched via IPEDS HD2024 county code; metro via IPEDS CBSA. Figures are averages and estimates for planning, not guarantees.

Add to a comparison · Back to explorer