Route comparison
Tucson, AZ vs El Paso, TX: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Tucson, AZ and El Paso, TX. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Tucson, AZ
AZ
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.8
- Housing RPP
- 91.1
- Goods RPP
- 97.5
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,337/mo
Arizona flat income tax 2.5%.
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 Tucson, AZ by about 2.8% (RPP 93.8 to 91.2).
$60,000 in Tucson, AZ
-> $58,337
in El Paso, TX
$100,000 in Tucson, AZ
-> $97,228
in El Paso, TX
$150,000 in Tucson, AZ
-> $145,842
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: Tucson, AZ vs El Paso, TX
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Tucson, AZ
- Net people
- +3,527
- Net rank
- #23 of 65
- Top origin share
- 12%
- Top destination share
- 14%
Largest source: Maricopa County, AZ. Largest destination: Maricopa County, AZ.
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 $187/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Tucson, AZ. Housing RPP moves from 91.1 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 Tucson, AZ?
- El Paso, TX (RPP 91.2) is cheaper than Tucson, AZ (RPP 93.8) by about 2.8%.
- What salary do I need in El Paso, TX if I earn $100,000 in Tucson, AZ?
- You would need approximately $97,228 in El Paso, TX to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Tucson, AZ. Formula: $100,000 x (91.2 / 93.8).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Tucson, AZ or El Paso, TX?
- For 2021-2022, Tucson, AZ had a net gain of 3,527 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.