Phoenix, AZ vs El Paso, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

El Paso, TX has a modeled overall cost index 14.7% lower than Phoenix, AZ.

Phoenix, AZ · modeled 2BR rent
$1,750 / month
El Paso, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Phoenix, AZ and El Paso, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,143/month in El Paso, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,282 in El Paso, TX

Regional cost estimates: Phoenix, AZ uses Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metropolitan Area. El Paso, TX uses El Paso, TX Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 14.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,143
Savings
Annual Impact
$13.7K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Phoenix, AZ

Population:1608K
Cost Index:
103.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$414K

El Paso, TX

Population:679K
Cost Index:
88.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$216K

Planning the move to El Paso?

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Phoenix, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

1.6M
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Hot desert

Notable Facts

  • •Fastest growing major city
  • •Desert metropolis
  • •Spring training capital

Major Industries

TechnologyHealthcareTourismManufacturing

El Paso, TX

The Lone Star State

679K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 679K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Phoenix, AZ vs El Paso, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 27.3%
Phoenix, AZ
$2,592
El Paso, TX
$1,884
Difference
$708
less
Transportation
↓ 16.5%
Phoenix, AZ
$1,384
El Paso, TX
$1,156
Difference
$229
less
Healthcare
↓ 14.7%
Phoenix, AZ
$547
El Paso, TX
$467
Difference
$80.64
less
All Utilities
↓ 13.3%
Phoenix, AZ
$522
El Paso, TX
$452
Difference
$69.59
less
Other
↓ 2.2%
Phoenix, AZ
$1,559
El Paso, TX
$1,525
Difference
$34.24
less
Groceries
↓ 2.5%
Phoenix, AZ
$895
El Paso, TX
$873
Difference
$22.29
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,390
To$800
↓ $590
1 Bed
From$1,510
To$990
↓ $520
2 Bed
From$1,750
To$1,160
↓ $590
3 Bed
From$2,330
To$1,590
↓ $740
Phoenix, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$2,380/mo

El Paso, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$1,330/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Phoenix, AZ
$6,357
Monthly in El Paso, TX
$1,143
Difference

Home Values

Phoenix
El Paso
$414K
Median Value
$216K
↓ -3.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.1%
↑ +30.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +42%
$274K - $957K
Price Range
$137K - $405K

Homes in El Paso are 48% less expensive than Phoenix

Calculate payment - PhoenixCalculate payment - El Paso

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $5.2K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$436
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.5%
Rate difference

Phoenix, AZ

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arizona State Tax
Effective: 3.5%
$5.2K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.2%
$42.2K
Take-Home Pay
$8,979/month
$107.8K

El Paso, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Phoenix, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%
Property Tax:0.6%

El Paso, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Phoenix, AZ
26/100
0.9% sidewalk tags · 5.8% cycling tags
El Paso, TX
14/100
0.5% sidewalk tags · 2.3% cycling tags

Environment

Phoenix
El Paso
77 Moderate
Air Quality
67 Moderate
9%
Good Air Days
22.1%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
95 High
🔥🌊🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡☀
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
162 days
Heat Days >95°F
97 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
162 days
Heat Days >95°F
97 days

Before moving from Phoenix, AZ to El Paso, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in El Paso, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Phoenix, AZ. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Phoenix to El Paso moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to El Paso, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Phoenix, AZ vs El Paso, TX

How do the cost estimates for Phoenix, AZ and El Paso, TX compare?

El Paso, TX has a modeled overall cost index 14.7% lower than Phoenix, AZ. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Phoenix, AZ, the model estimates $136,282 in El Paso, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Phoenix, AZ and El Paso, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,750/month in Phoenix, AZ and $1,160/month in El Paso, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Arizona and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Phoenix, AZ on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $1,267/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $1,242/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $1,091/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $1,021/mo
5.Columbus, OH
Save $977/mo

Similar cost to El Paso, TX

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