re: How someone affords a median lifestyle in Dallas Texas

Your numbers are a bit off brother.

That food budget is a bit low. You've also forgotten all the myriad bills like internet, electricity, maybe a subscription service.

The rent is also low for Dallas proper. 1500 might fly in far north Dallas.

When it comes to houses, all you're getting for 400k is a condo or the hood. 400k might get you a starter home in the suburbs north of Dallas. Also, someone who is making 75k isn't going to produce 80k of cash most likely, so probably a higher monthly and then PMI on top of that.

Finally, the DTI is off. If someone makes 75k then that's 6250 monthly. At the best credit score your payment can be 45% of that minus fixed debts (car payment, student loan). So 6250 * .45 - 500 = $2,312. That's the most this theoretical person could have for a house payment monthly. 2900 would never fly.