El Paso vs Plano
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 28% less expensive than Plano.

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

Plano, TX

COL index105
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,500/mo
Median home price$430K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexPlano indexDifference
Housing106 ✓137+31%
Groceries78 ✓100+22%
Transportation80 ✓100+20%
Healthcare80 ✓102+22%
Utilities82 ✓100+18%

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

Salary equivalency: El Paso → Plano

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in PlanoDifference
$60,000$77,000+$17,000
$80,000$102,000+$22,000
$100,000$128,000+$28,000
$130,000$166,000+$36,000
$150,000$192,000+$42,000
$200,000$256,000+$56,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Plano, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 105 for Plano — a difference of approximately 28%.

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 $430,000 in Plano. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,500/month in Plano.

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