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Secunda vs Dallas

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

Mpumalanga, South Africa
View Secunda profile
#11 in South Africa
67
Overall Score
VS
Texas, USA
View Dallas profile
#525 in USA
51
Overall Score
Secunda scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Secunda
Dallas
Livability
70
80
Affordability
72
48
Business
65
88
Growth
64
85

Cost of Living

Secunda is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 43% lower than in Dallas. Housing costs are a major driver: Secunda's average rent is 54% lower than Dallas's.
MetricSecundaDallasDiff
Average Rent
$650$1,412-54%
Groceries
$320$450-29%
Utilities
$150$281-47%
Transport
$110$126-13%
Healthcare
$140$135+4%
Monthly Total
$1,370$2,404-43%
Cost Index
52101out of 100

Salary & Income

Dallas offers 96% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Dallas delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Secunda is estimated at $1,800 vs $96,970 in Dallas.
MetricSecundaDallas
Average Salary
$2,400$60,900
Salary Needed
$1,800$96,970
Purchasing Power
4,615 idx60,297 idx
Household Income
$28,000$70,518

Climate Comparison

Secunda runs warmer on average — a 61.1°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Secunda comes out ahead with 255 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Secunda sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricSecundaDallas
Avg Temp
61.10°F°F
Summer High
65.00°F°F
Winter Low
59.00°F°F
Rainfall
37.10 in in
Snowfall
0.10 in in
Sunny Days
255
Humidity
62.00%65.00%

Commute & Transport

Secunda has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Dallas. Dallas scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Dallas leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricSecundaDallas
Commute Time
20 min26 min
Transit Score
40.0/10055.0/100
Walkability
50.0/10060.0/100
Traffic Index
35.0041.00
Car Dependency
High

Economy & Demographics

Dallas is the larger city . From a growth perspective, Secunda is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Dallas has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricSecundaDallas
Population
45,0001,336,440
Pop. Growth
0.80%0.52%
Median Age
35.033.4
Unemployment
26.50%4.30%
GDP
——

Pros & Cons

Secunda
Advantages
High concentration of stable, high-paying engineering and technical jobs anchored by Sasol Operations
Well-planned suburban layout with robust community sports and recreational facilities
Shorter average commute times compared to major South African metropolitan areas
Comprehensive local private healthcare infrastructure including Mediclinic facilities
Active municipal and corporate backing for local infrastructure and neighborhood maintenance
Drawbacks
High economic reliance on a single major industrial employer and carbon-intensive sector
Heavy industrial environmental footprint and air quality monitoring concerns
Limited public transportation network creating high reliance on private vehicles
Vulnerability to broader national power grid instabilities and utility disruptions
Fluctuating rental market driven by temporary industrial contracting cycles
Dallas
Advantages
Violent crime in Dallas dropped by 12% in 2025, indicating an improving safety landscape.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is a leader in economic growth, ranking highly for job creation and business investment.
Dallas is recognized as a top city for dining out, offering affordable options for mid-range meals.
Texas has no state income tax, which can lead to higher take-home pay for residents.
The city boasts a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, ranking 27th globally for startups in 2026.
Drawbacks
Property crime remains a significant challenge in Dallas, particularly in certain neighborhoods.
Utility costs in Dallas are higher than the national average, primarily due to electricity expenses.
Dallas experiences notable traffic congestion, with commuters spending considerable time in traffic.
Despite overall metro growth, the city of Dallas experienced a slight population decline in 2025.
While public transit exists, high car dependency is a reality for navigating the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Secunda
#11
Mpumalanga, South Africa
66.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$650
Avg Salary
$2,400
Cost Index
52
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
50.0/100
Sunny Days
255/yr
Avg Temp
61.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
26.50%
Livability
70
Business
65
View Full Profile
Dallas
#525
Texas, USA
50.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,412
Avg Salary
$60,900
Cost Index
101
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.52%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
80
Business
88
View Full Profile

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