Cost of Living in El Paso, TX
Cost of Living in El Paso, TX has an overall index of 89, 11% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $231,886; typical monthly rent is $1,441; and median household income is $58,734.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Zillow ZORI market signal as of 2026-02. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Other Texas cities with a useful tradeoff.
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Frequently asked questions about El Paso
Living in El Paso
Is El Paso, TX an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in El Paso run about 11% below the US average (Cost Index: 89). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $231,886, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $1,441, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does El Paso fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,441, while local median household income is $58,734. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 29% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in El Paso, TX?+
This model applies no broad Texas wage-income tax. Applying the 1.6% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $231,886 gives a planning estimate near $3,710 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.19%.
How much does it cost to rent in El Paso, TX?+
The typical monthly rent in El Paso is around $1,441. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $231,886, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in El Paso, TX?+
The typical home value in El Paso is $231,886. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $1,125/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 60% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in El Paso?+
Grocery prices in El Paso are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 83). Both help keep your monthly expenses lower than in many parts of the country.
What is El Paso, TX like to live in?+
El Paso is a major city with a population of about 678,147. The median age of residents is 34.1, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 18.38%, above the national average of 12.4%.