Denver vs El Paso
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 31% more affordable than Denver. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs Colorado's 4.55%.

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At a glance

Denver, CO

COL index118
State income tax4.55%
Avg 1BR rent$1,800/mo
Median home price$545K
VS

El Paso, TX

COL index82 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$850/mo ✓
Median home price$190K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryDenver indexEl Paso indexDifference
Housing154106 ✓-48%
Groceries11278 ✓-34%
Transportation11280 ✓-32%
Healthcare11480 ✓-34%
Utilities11082 ✓-28%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost. How we calculate this →

Salary equivalency: Denver → El Paso

What salary in El Paso gives you the same purchasing power as your Denver salary?

Salary in DenverEquivalent in El PasoDifference
$60,000$39,000$-21,000
$80,000$52,000$-28,000
$100,000$65,000$-35,000
$130,000$84,000$-46,000
$150,000$97,000$-53,000
$200,000$130,000$-70,000

Denver vs El Paso: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Denver, CO and El Paso, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 118 for Denver — a difference of approximately 31%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso workers an immediate 4.55% take-home pay advantage over Denver workers who pay Colorado's 4.55% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Denver is $545,000, compared to $190,000 in El Paso. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,800/month in Denver versus $850/month in El Paso.

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