El Paso vs Dallas
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 17% less expensive than Dallas.

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

Dallas, TX

COL index96
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,380/mo
Median home price$340K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexDallas indexDifference
Housing106 ✓125+19%
Groceries78 ✓91+13%
Transportation80 ✓92+12%
Healthcare80 ✓93+13%
Utilities82 ✓93+11%

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

Salary equivalency: El Paso → Dallas

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in DallasDifference
$60,000$70,000+$10,000
$80,000$94,000+$14,000
$100,000$117,000+$17,000
$130,000$152,000+$22,000
$150,000$176,000+$26,000
$200,000$234,000+$34,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Dallas, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 96 for Dallas — a difference of approximately 17%.

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 $340,000 in Dallas. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,380/month in Dallas.

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