El Paso vs Atlanta
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 21% less expensive than Atlanta. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs Georgia's 5.75%.

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At a glance

El Paso, TX

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

Atlanta, GA

COL index99
State income tax5.75%
Avg 1BR rent$1,550/mo
Median home price$390K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexAtlanta indexDifference
Housing106129+23%
Groceries7894+16%
Transportation8095+15%
Healthcare8096+16%
Utilities8295+13%

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

Salary equivalency: El PasoAtlanta

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in AtlantaDifference
$60,000$79,000+$19,000
$80,000$105,000+$25,000
$100,000$131,000+$31,000
$130,000$171,000+$41,000
$150,000$197,000+$47,000
$200,000$263,000+$63,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Atlanta, GA, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 99 for Atlanta — a difference of approximately 21%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso workers an immediate 5.75% take-home pay advantage over Atlanta workers who pay Georgia's 5.75% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in El Paso is $190,000, compared to $390,000 in Atlanta. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,550/month in Atlanta.

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