Living in Dallas
Dallas, Texas. The Big D. The concrete jungle of the southern plains, where big hair, big personalities, and big trucks reign supreme.The natives like their beer, their pickup trucks, their delicious food, and their country music. They know how to two-step, tie a fishing line, and pick out the perfect pair of boots.
Many Dallas residents combine these interests with the the fine arts of urban life. You’re also likely to see people sipping on meticulously-mixed martinis, walking in gucci heels, or working on their tech startup at the local Starbucks.
As one of the biggest metros in the country, Dallas is a little bit of everything. It’s a cultural mecca of world-class museums and international cuisine. It’s an enterprising, intense business empire. It’s a glitzy beacon of nightlife and live music. It’s a place where all types of personalities coexist in varying degrees of civility, passion, and camaraderie. There’s no book or song or TV show (not even Dallas) that can adequately describe this city, because it is just too multifaceted.
But we’re going to try anyway. Here we go!
landmarks
Landmarks in Dallas include the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, the Winspear Opera House, the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dealy Plaza, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and Big Tex.
activities
State Fair of Texas
By far the biggest, baddest event in Dallas is the State Fair of Texas. Opening ceremonies kick off with a parade that rolls through downtown, and “Big Tex” (a Texas version of Paul Bunyan), welcoming fairgoers with a bellowing “Hoowwdyyyy!”. Throughout the 24 days of celebration, you’ll see carnivals, pig races, stock shows, concerts and a car show, among other festivities of pure Texan ingenuity.
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
This 3-day festival in the heart of Dallas’ artistic scene is the most eclectic party of the year. Art, music, a pet parade, and a walking parade of sculptures, costumes and general revelry make this event something that every Dallas resident should experience.
Tex-Mex Culture
Breakfast tacos, carnitas, al pastor, margaritas and smothered chili relleno - these pure, distilled Tex-Mex delights are a daily indulgence in Dallas. And when Cinco de Mayo rolls around, the city comes alive with parades, parties, live performances and cultural jubilation.
The Great Outdoors
When Dallas folks need a break from the big city, they head out to White Rock Lake. Here, you’ll find miles of hiking and biking trails, serene kayaking and great fishing spots. Other great escapes include the beautiful Cedar Ridge Preserve and Mountain Creek Lake.
transportation
Most folks in Dallas prefer to drive, no matter how bad the traffic is. However, if you are someone who plans to ditch the car for a greener path, then you’ll be happy to know Dallas has an increasingly efficient network of light rail lines, biking paths, wide sidewalks, trolleys and buses. Public transportation is provided by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which has bus routes and rail lines throughout the metro area.
sports
Dallas is home to the Cowboys (NFL), the Mavericks (NBA), and the Texas Rangers (MLB). Dallas also hosts the State Fair Classic, the Heart of Dallas Bowl, and the Red River Shootout, which pits the University of Texas against the University of Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl.
weather
The weather in Dallas is beautiful in the fall, winter and spring. But then summer happens. When you survive your first week of 100+ degree days, you’ll come out tougher on the other side. With this in mind, you might want to try to find an apartment with a solid air conditioning system.
company headquarters
Over the years, Dallas has grown from a small farming town to a petroleum kingpin to a diversified modern economy of energy, industrial, financial, defense and tech giants. Fortune 500 companies with headquarters in Dallas include Commercial Bank, AT&T, Energy Transfer Equity, Hollyfrontier, Energy Future Holdings, Trinity Industries, Dean Foods, Tenet Healthcare, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. Well-known companies like Zales, Neiman Marcus, HP, Frito Lay, Dr. Pepper and 7-Eleven also have Dallas headquarters.
Rent Trends for Apartments in Dallas
| Bedroom count | Dallas | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,361 | No change |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,480 |  up 1.37% |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,100 | up 1.35% |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,650 |  down 3.64% |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,300 | down 2.94% |
Neighborhoods in Dallas
Downtown
Uptown
Deep Ellum
Oak Cliff
Southeast Dallas
Southwest Dallas
Far North Dallas
Renting an Apartment in Dallas
Pets
Dallas is a dog-loving city. There are pet friendly pads in nearly every neighborhood, as well as plenty of lovely parks to take the pooch out for a walk. During festival season, it’s not uncommon to see dogs participating in the parades, concerts and art shows. Even many local restaurants and bars have a spot where Fido can hang out. However, most apartments will charge a pet fee and/or pet rent, so be prepared to fork out extra money for your furry family members.
Price
While most of Texas is known for its low cost of living, this isn’t necessarily the case in Dallas. Rental rates rival those found in any other Texan city, especially the closer you get to downtown. However, budget-minded renters can save a ton of money by finding an apartment that bundles rent with utilities. That will come in handy during the dog days of summer, when electric bills can reach up to $400.
Perks
Dallas rentals come with a wide variety of amenities, in the hopes of attracting and retaining good tenants. Swimming pools, fitness centers, media centers, and even rooftop bars, are just a few examples. However, if you’re trying to live close to the city center on a tight budget, you’ll want to skip the perks to find the best cheap apartments in Dallas.
Cities Near Dallas
Top Neighborhoods in Dallas
Find Your Dream Apartment for Rent in Dallas
Dallas TX Apartments for Rent
Must-see
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