El Paso vs Houston
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 11% less expensive than Houston.

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

Houston, TX

COL index91
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,250/mo
Median home price$290K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexHouston indexDifference
Housing106 ✓118+12%
Groceries78 ✓87+9%
Transportation80 ✓88+8%
Healthcare80 ✓88+8%
Utilities82 ✓89+7%

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

Salary equivalency: El Paso → Houston

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in HoustonDifference
$60,000$67,000+$7,000
$80,000$89,000+$9,000
$100,000$111,000+$11,000
$130,000$144,000+$14,000
$150,000$166,000+$16,000
$200,000$222,000+$22,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Houston, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 91 for Houston — a difference of approximately 11%.

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 $290,000 in Houston. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,250/month in Houston.

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