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Cost of living in El Paso, TX

Livability score 74 · cost-of-living index 90.8 (US = 100)

El Paso, TX
Photo: WmCheez via Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How El Paso compares

Where El Paso falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 91 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 91 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $233k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $233k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $111 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $111 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.2% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.2% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 2.13% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 2.13% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 430 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 430 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.0 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.0 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 96° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 96° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 38° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 38°

Map of El Paso

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 90.8 metro-area #37 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 92.9 metro-area #1 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.17 metro-area #37 of 200
Median household income $55,344 metro-area #189 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $30,834 metro-area #194 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 33.3 years metro-area #16 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 25.3% metro-area #170 of 200
Foreign-born residents 23.1% metro-area #16 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 63.7% metro-area #133 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 6.81% metro-area #179 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +3.4% metro-area #109 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $232,910 metro-area #35 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.2× metro-area #65 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +1.6% metro-area #96 of 200
Price per square foot $111 metro-area #22 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,100 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,520 metro-area #83 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 3,443
Median days on market 33 metro-area #160 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.6% state #9 of 200
Combined sales tax 8.20% state #116 of 200
State income tax (top rate) None
Capital gains tax None state #1 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate 2.13% metro-area #188 of 200
Median property tax paid $3,274 metro-area #133 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 76.5 years metro-area #100 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 state #93 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 23.5% metro-area #195 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 50 metro-area #185 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,500 state #37 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $75 state #46 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Required
Emissions detail Required in major metro counties (Travis, Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, etc.)
DMV & license offices 12
Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #99 of 200
Commute by driving alone 76.3% metro-area #121 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 30.3% metro-area #85 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 17.0¢/kWh state #90 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $153 state #90 of 200
Gasoline $3.00/gal state #24 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 state #23 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $134 state #142 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $83 state #135 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $3,600 state #164 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $2,100 state #126 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 95.1 — Relatively High metro-area #146 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 state #152 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 67 metro-area #193 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 3,000 metro-area #162 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 1,800 metro-area #27 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 99 metro-area #183 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 14 metro-area #185 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 96°F metro-area #181 of 200
Avg winter low 38°F metro-area #46 of 200
Annual precipitation 7.8" metro-area #7 of 200
Annual snowfall 0.2" metro-area #50 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 80% metro-area #6 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 8b
Frost window 02-25 → 12-01

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 430 state #111 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,400 state #131 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 42 metro-area #121 of 200
Parks 73
Hiking areas 11
Golf courses 11
Shooting ranges 8
Lakes 12

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy; rural areas minimal, major cities moderate

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in El Paso

Major public and private employers in the El Paso, TX area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Fort Bliss Government Careers →
ADP Tech Careers →
Charles Schwab Finance Careers →
Helen of Troy Manufacturing Search →
Hospitals of Providence Healthcare Search →
El Paso Independent School District Education Search →

Salaries by occupation in El Paso

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $155,600
Lawyers $128,020
Pharmacists $126,920
Physician Assistants $121,890
Financial Managers $107,150
Software Developers $106,750
Human Resources Managers $99,590
Marketing Managers $97,650
Physical Therapists $95,420
Data Scientists $82,140
Mechanical Engineers $80,510
Dental Hygienists $79,660
Web Developers $78,510
Construction Managers $78,480
Registered Nurses $77,950
General & Operations Managers $71,030
Civil Engineers $70,210
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $64,980
Accountants & Auditors $64,740
Elementary School Teachers $62,880
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $46,500
Electricians $45,780
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $43,000
Graphic Designers $40,670
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $39,760
Carpenters $36,990
Real Estate Sales Agents $35,810
Medical Assistants $33,680

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