El Paso vs San Antonio
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 6% less expensive than San Antonio.

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

San Antonio, TX

COL index87
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,100/mo
Median home price$260K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexSan Antonio indexDifference
Housing106 ✓112+6%
Groceries78 ✓83+5%
Transportation80 ✓85+5%
Healthcare80 ✓85+5%
Utilities82 ✓86+4%

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

Salary equivalency: El Paso → San Antonio

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in San AntonioDifference
$60,000$64,000+$4,000
$80,000$85,000+$5,000
$100,000$106,000+$6,000
$130,000$138,000+$8,000
$150,000$159,000+$9,000
$200,000$212,000+$12,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and San Antonio, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 87 for San Antonio — a difference of approximately 6%.

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 $260,000 in San Antonio. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $1,100/month in San Antonio.

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