Seattle vs El Paso
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 45% more affordable than Seattle.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Seattle, WA

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

El Paso, TX

COL index82 ✓
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$850/mo ✓
Median home price$190K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySeattle indexEl Paso indexDifference
Housing198106 ✓-92%
Groceries14178 ✓-63%
Transportation14080 ✓-60%
Healthcare14580 ✓-65%
Utilities13582 ✓-53%

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

Salary equivalency: Seattle → El Paso

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

Salary in SeattleEquivalent in El PasoDifference
$60,000$33,000$-27,000
$80,000$44,000$-36,000
$100,000$55,000$-45,000
$130,000$71,000$-59,000
$150,000$82,000$-68,000
$200,000$109,000$-91,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between Seattle, WA and El Paso, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 150 for Seattle — a difference of approximately 45%.

State income tax impact

Both Washington and Texas have no state income tax, so that factor is neutral in this comparison.

Housing costs

The median home price in Seattle is $780,000, compared to $190,000 in El Paso. Average 1-bedroom rent is $2,200/month in Seattle versus $850/month in El Paso.

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