City profile
El Paso, TX cost of living
TX · BLS RPP 91.2
Overall RPP
91.2
US = 100
Housing RPP
73.4
Housing component
Goods RPP
93.6
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,150/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where El Paso, TX sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#65 of 67
-8.8 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-7.2
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#63 of 67
-456/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of El Paso, TX
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the El Paso, TX metro.
Moved in
31,033
people · 15,365 households
Moved out
33,099
people · 16,221 households
Net
−2,066
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#35 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-1,962
median -104 people
Largest flow share
6% in / 7% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Doña Ana County, NM 1,812
- Bexar County, TX 936
- Maricopa County, AZ 837
- Los Angeles County, CA 717
- Harris County, TX 533
Where residents moved to
- Doña Ana County, NM 2,214
- Bexar County, TX 1,554
- Maricopa County, AZ 837
- El Paso County, CO 718
- Travis County, TX 573
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in El Paso, TX?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in El Paso, TX | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $45,600 | $50,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $75,000 | $68,400 | $75,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $100,000 | $91,200 | $100,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $125,000 | $114,000 | $125,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $150,000 | $136,800 | $150,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $200,000 | $182,400 | $200,000 x (91.2/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Texas has no state income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in El Paso, TX?
- El Paso, TX has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 91.2 (US average = 100). It is 8.8% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in El Paso, TX?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $91,200 in El Paso, TX to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in El Paso, TX?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in El Paso, TX is approximately $1,150 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from El Paso, TX?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 31,033 people moved into the El Paso, TX metro and 33,099 moved out — a net loss of roughly 2,066 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Doña Ana County, NM.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to El Paso, TX, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for El Paso, TX
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