El Paso vs Seattle
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 83% less expensive than Seattle.

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

Seattle, WA

COL index150
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$2,200/mo
Median home price$780K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryEl Paso indexSeattle indexDifference
Housing106 ✓198+92%
Groceries78 ✓141+63%
Transportation80 ✓140+60%
Healthcare80 ✓145+65%
Utilities82 ✓135+53%

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

Salary equivalency: El Paso → Seattle

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

Salary in El PasoEquivalent in SeattleDifference
$60,000$110,000+$50,000
$80,000$146,000+$66,000
$100,000$183,000+$83,000
$130,000$238,000+$108,000
$150,000$274,000+$124,000
$200,000$366,000+$166,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between El Paso, TX and Seattle, WA, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 150 for Seattle — a difference of approximately 83%.

State income tax impact

Both Texas and Washington 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 $780,000 in Seattle. Average 1-bedroom rent is $850/month in El Paso versus $2,200/month in Seattle.

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