Cost of Living in El Paso, TX
El Paso's cost of living index is 85 — making it 17.6% more affordable than the US national average. To maintain your current standard of living here, you would need to earn $85,000 for every $100,000 of national-average income.
The El Paso Tax & Cost Impact
Since Texas has no state income tax, moving to El Paso provides an immediate "automatic raise" of roughly 5-10% for most W-2 employees compared to high-tax states.
Decision Matrix
- ✓Housing: Housing is a value-play compared to national tiers.
- ✓Savings Rate: To save $2,000/mo here, you need a gross household income of ~$71,400.
COL Index
85
100 = national avg
Monthly Budget
$4,250
vs $5,000 national
Population
0.7M
Metro area
State Tax
None
Texas
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs in El Paso vs national average for a typical household.
| Category | National Avg | El Paso | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,650 | $1,279 | -$371 |
| Groceries | $650 | $572 | -$78 |
| Transportation | $800 | $692 | -$108 |
| Healthcare | $400 | $358 | -$42 |
| Utilities | $300 | $255 | -$45 |
| Other | $1,200 | $1,056 | -$144 |
| Total | $5,000 | $4,250 | -$750 |
Salary Equivalent
To maintain the same standard of living in El Paso, a national-average salary translates to:
$50,000 nationally
$42,500
$75,000 nationally
$63,750
$100,000 nationally
$85,000
$150,000 nationally
$127,500
What Your Salary Gets You in El Paso
Here's how different salary levels translate to monthly purchasing power in El Paso, TX, where the cost of living is 15% below the national average.
Cities With Similar Cost of Living
FAQ: Cost of Living in El Paso
Is El Paso expensive to live in?
El Paso's cost of living index is 85, which is well below the national average of 100. Housing is typically the biggest factor, with estimated monthly rent around $1,403.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in El Paso?
To maintain a middle-class lifestyle in El Paso, you'd need approximately $63,750 per year, which is equivalent to a $75,000 salary at the national average cost of living.
How does El Paso compare to other cities?
El Paso is comparable in cost to Memphis, Tulsa, Detroit.