Route comparison
San Antonio, TX vs El Paso, TX: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between San Antonio, TX and El Paso, TX. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
San Antonio, TX
TX
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 95.1
- Housing RPP
- 94.6
- Goods RPP
- 93.6
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,458/mo
Texas has no state income tax.
El Paso, TX
TX
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 91.2
- Housing RPP
- 73.4
- Goods RPP
- 93.6
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,150/mo
Texas has no state income tax.
Equivalent salary
El Paso, TX is cheaper than San Antonio, TX by about 4.1% (RPP 95.1 to 91.2).
$60,000 in San Antonio, TX
-> $57,539
in El Paso, TX
$100,000 in San Antonio, TX
-> $95,899
in El Paso, TX
$150,000 in San Antonio, TX
-> $143,849
in El Paso, TX
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.
Migration signal: San Antonio, TX vs El Paso, TX
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022San Antonio, TX
- Net people
- +28,314
- Net rank
- #4 of 65
- Top origin share
- 3%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Travis County, TX. Largest destination: Harris County, TX.
El Paso, TX
- Net people
- −2,066
- Net rank
- #35 of 65
- Top origin share
- 6%
- Top destination share
- 7%
Largest source: Doña Ana County, NM. Largest destination: Doña Ana County, NM.
Rent delta: El Paso, TX is $308/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than San Antonio, TX. Housing RPP moves from 94.6 to 73.4.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is El Paso, TX cheaper or more expensive than San Antonio, TX?
- El Paso, TX (RPP 91.2) is cheaper than San Antonio, TX (RPP 95.1) by about 4.1%.
- What salary do I need in El Paso, TX if I earn $100,000 in San Antonio, TX?
- You would need approximately $95,899 in El Paso, TX to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in San Antonio, TX. Formula: $100,000 x (91.2 / 95.1).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, San Antonio, TX or El Paso, TX?
- For 2021-2022, San Antonio, TX had a net gain of 28,314 people, while El Paso, TX had a net loss of 2,066 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.