Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and El Paso, TX 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in El Paso, TX is 9.6% lower than in Austin, TX (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in El Paso, TX is 24.3% lower than in Austin, TX
Rent Prices in El Paso, TX are 48.4% lower than in Austin, TX
Restaurant Prices in El Paso, TX are 4.3% lower than in Austin, TX
Groceries Prices in El Paso, TX are 10.6% lower than in Austin, TX
Local Purchasing Power in El Paso, TX is 12.5% lower than in Austin, TX
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 20.00 $ 19.00 $      -5.0 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 80.00 $ 70.00 $      -12.5 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 11.00 $ 12.00 $      +9.1 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 6.00 $ 5.50 $      -8.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 8.00 $ 6.00 $      -25.0 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.58 $ 6.40 $      +14.7 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.78 $ 2.24 $      -19.6 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.20 $ 1.57 $      -28.6 %
Markets
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.01 $ 0.85 $      -16.3 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 3.09 $ 2.52 $      -18.4 %
White Rice (1 lb) 1.55 $ 1.12 $      -27.9 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 5.06 $ 3.74 $      -26.2 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.69 $ 5.83 $      +2.3 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.39 $ 4.78 $      -11.3 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 6.71 $ 6.07 $      -9.5 %
Apples (1 lb) 2.17 $ 1.70 $      -21.7 %
Bananas (1 lb) 0.72 $ 0.72 $      -0.0 %
Oranges (1 lb) 1.78 $ 1.25 $      -29.8 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 1.70 $ 2.07 $      +21.8 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.28 $ 1.44 $      +12.4 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.20 $ 1.62 $      +35.3 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 1.93 $ 1.79 $      -7.1 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.20 $ 1.60 $      -27.1 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.00 $ 9.50 $      -36.7 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 2.72 $ 2.06 $      -24.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3.40 $ 4.19 $      +23.1 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 9.46 $ 9.46 $      0.0 %
Transportation
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.38 $ 1.50 $      +9.1 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 41.25 $ 48.00 $      +16.4 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 2.50 $ 1.65 $      -34.0 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.51 $ 2.25 $      -10.1 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 32.50 $ 27.00 $      -16.9 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 0.73 $ 0.74 $      +0.6 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 36,232.00 $ 36,232.00 $      0.0 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 26,042.96 $ 25,661.67 $      -1.5 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 181.77 $ 184.86 $      +1.7 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 53.96 $ 69.00 $      +27.9 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 67.76 $ 66.25 $      -2.2 %
Sports And Leisure
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 62.24 $ 18.80 $      -69.8 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 14.50 $ 8.50 $      -41.4 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 14.50 $ 12.00 $      -17.2 %
Childcare
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 1,378.21 $ 574.50 $      -58.3 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 21,675.00 $ 6,930.00 $      -68.0 %
Clothing And Shoes
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 53.77 $ 46.25 $      -14.0 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 44.50 $ 36.50 $      -18.0 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 88.27 $ 97.21 $      +10.1 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 114.00 $ 176.00 $      +54.4 %
Rent Per Month
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,188.30 $ 1,147.68 $      -47.6 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,426.62 $ 882.00 $      -38.2 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 4,041.90 $ 1,708.00 $      -57.7 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,622.29 $ 1,564.00 $      -40.4 %
Buy Apartment Price
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 642.73 $ 165.63 $      -74.2 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 286.99 $ 165.22 $      -42.4 %
Salaries And Financing
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 4,888.14 $ 3,234.56 $      -33.8 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.45 6.26      -3.0 %
Last update: 6 December 20258 December 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:20925