| Index | El Paso | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 78 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 101 | 98 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in El Paso allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in El Paso stands at 95, marking it 5% lower than the national average.
The cost of living in El Paso is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, household expenses and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 27 locals to get their views on the cost of living in El Paso. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 48% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 52% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is El Paso affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take El Paso, for instance, where the median home price falls 27% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 11.5% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with El Paso flaunting a median household income of $72,976, 10.3% lower than the national norm.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In El Paso, the housing index is 22.4% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in El Paso comes in at 5.8% higher than the national average.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In El Paso, the transportation index is 4.1% higher than the national average.
The El Paso cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $93,178 | $7,765 | $2,174 | $2,796 |
| Renters | $47,202 | $3,934 | $1,101 | $1,416 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| La Union, NM | 940 | 86 | 14.2% |
| Sparks, TX | 4,023 | 84 | 16.2% |
| Westway, TX | 3,490 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Canutillo, TX | 5,103 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Vinton, TX | 1,750 | 88 | 12.1% |
| El Paso, TX | 703,663 | 95 | 5.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Vancouver, BC | 694,440 | n/a | |
| Detroit, MI | 692,044 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Nashville, TN | 692,022 | 110 | 10.0% |
| Boston, MA | 715,604 | 170 | 69.8% |
| Washington, DC | 721,713 | 181 | 81.4% |
| El Paso, TX | 703,663 | 95 | 5.4% |
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