El Paso vs Austin
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 34% less expensive than Austin.

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

Austin, TX

COL index110
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,650/mo
Median home price$520K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexAustin indexDifference
Housing106 ✓144+38%
Groceries78 ✓104+26%
Transportation80 ✓105+25%
Healthcare80 ✓107+27%
Utilities82 ✓104+22%

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

Salary equivalency: El Paso → Austin

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in AustinDifference
$60,000$80,000+$20,000
$80,000$107,000+$27,000
$100,000$134,000+$34,000
$130,000$174,000+$44,000
$150,000$201,000+$51,000
$200,000$268,000+$68,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Austin, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 110 for Austin — a difference of approximately 34%.

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 $520,000 in Austin. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,650/month in Austin.

El Paso vs Houston →El Paso vs San Antonio →El Paso vs Dallas →El Paso vs Fort Worth →El Paso vs Arlington →El Paso vs Corpus Christi →