Austin vs El Paso Cost of Living
El Paso is approximately 13.3% cheaper than Austin. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Austin, TX
El Paso, TX
| Salary in Austin | Equivalent in El Paso | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,300 | -$6,700 (-13.4%) |
| $75,000 | $65,000 | -$10,000 (-13.3%) |
| $100,000 | $86,700 | -$13,300 (-13.3%) |
| $150,000 | $130,000 | -$20,000 (-13.3%) |
| $200,000 | $173,300 | -$26,700 (-13.4%) |
Austin vs El Paso: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, El Paso is 13.3% cheaper than Austin. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in Austin, you'd spend approximately $4,333 for the same lifestyle in El Paso. Or: $100,000 in Austin ≈ $86,667 in El Paso for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
Both Texas and Texas have no state income tax — the move doesn't change your state tax burden.
What costs more (and less) in El Paso
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. El Paso's housing index (0.54×) compared to Austin's (0.79×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from Austin to El Paso, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: -32% lower
- Groceries: -8% lower
- Transportation: -6% lower
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
Austin Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Austin. El Paso Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in El Paso. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.