salaryRent is lower than in 73% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $49,840 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Texas cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Texas. It is number 147 of 426 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
Compare El Paso with other big cities
Compare El Paso to 149 other cities →
How much do households earn in El Paso?
Share of households by yearly income. 18.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in El Paso
| Size | El Paso | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $763 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $894 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,088 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,367 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,690 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is El Paso overall?
Everyday prices in the El Paso metro area are 10% below the U.S. average (index 89.9, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in El Paso
Life in El Paso
What jobs pay in El Paso
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $140,550 | 10.6% |
| Software Developer | $127,310 | 11.7% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,110 | 11.8% |
| Pharmacist | $124,910 | 12.0% |
| Physician Assistant | $107,220 | 13.9% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $94,610 | 15.8% |
| Registered Nurse | $86,100 | 17.4% |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,660 | 17.7% |
| Civil Engineer | $79,090 | 18.9% |
| Operations Manager | $77,770 | 19.2% |
| Police Officer | $76,400 | 19.6% |
| Accountant | $65,990 | 22.7% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,800 | 23.4% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $58,770 | 25.4% |
| Plumber | $53,560 | 27.9% |
| Market Research Analyst | $50,680 | 29.5% |
| Firefighter | $50,300 | 29.7% |
| Truck Driver | $49,270 | 30.3% |
| Electrician | $48,140 | 31.1% |
| HVAC Technician | $47,270 | 31.6% |
| Carpenter | $42,430 | 35.2% |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,640 | 39.7% |
| Medical Assistant | $35,790 | 41.8% |
| Warehouse Worker | $35,550 | 42.1% |
| Nursing Assistant | $35,170 | 42.5% |
| Restaurant Cook | $28,990 | 51.6% |
| Retail Salesperson | $27,330 | 54.7% |
| Cashier | $27,320 | 54.7% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $21,870 | 68.4% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in El Paso?
About the same. Renting and owning cost within $34 of each other each month.
Owning assumes a typical $184,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $18,450 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in El Paso, TX?
Renting in El Paso costs a median of about $1,246 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Texas median is $1,451.
How much do I need to make to live in El Paso?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $49,840 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.
Is El Paso cheap or expensive?
El Paso is rated OK: rent takes 23.2% of the typical household income of $64,435. It ranks 147th cheapest of 426 Texas cities we track.
How much are property taxes in El Paso?
The median homeowner in El Paso pays $3,760 a year in property taxes, about 2.04% of the median home value.
Is El Paso more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 10% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in El Paso?
The median home value in El Paso is $184,500, about 2.9 times the typical yearly household income.
680,130 people live in El Paso. Numbers are typical (middle) values.