El Paso vs Arlington
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 15% less expensive than Arlington.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

El Paso, TX

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

Arlington, TX

COL index94
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,280/mo
Median home price$310K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexArlington indexDifference
Housing106 ✓122+16%
Groceries78 ✓89+11%
Transportation80 ✓91+11%
Healthcare80 ✓91+11%
Utilities82 ✓91+9%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: El Paso → Arlington

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in ArlingtonDifference
$60,000$69,000+$9,000
$80,000$92,000+$12,000
$100,000$115,000+$15,000
$130,000$149,000+$19,000
$150,000$172,000+$22,000
$200,000$229,000+$29,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Arlington, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 94 for Arlington — a difference of approximately 15%.

State income tax impact

Both Texas and Texas have no state income tax, so that factor is neutral in this comparison.

Housing costs

The median home price in El Paso is $190,000, compared to $310,000 in Arlington. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,280/month in Arlington.

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