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

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in El Paso, TX is 16.2% lower than in Austin, TX (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in El Paso, TX is 26.9% lower than in Austin, TX
Rent Prices in El Paso, TX are 46.4% lower than in Austin, TX
Restaurant Prices in El Paso, TX are 3.3% lower than in Austin, TX
Groceries Prices in El Paso, TX are 23.9% lower than in Austin, TX
Local Purchasing Power in El Paso, TX is 11.1% 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 $18.50      -7.5 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) $80.00 $78.00      -2.5 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) $12.00 $12.00      0.0 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) $7.00 $6.00      -14.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) $8.00 $6.80      -15.0 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) $5.33 $6.16      +15.5 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) $3.31 $2.34      -29.4 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) $2.11 $1.58      -25.2 %
Markets
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) $1.03 $0.85      -17.4 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) $3.43 $2.77      -19.2 %
White Rice (1 lb) $1.53 $1.12      -27.1 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) $4.48 $3.74      -16.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) $5.99 $5.39      -10.1 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) $6.72 $4.78      -28.9 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) $8.34 $5.82      -30.2 %
Apples (1 lb) $2.35 $1.59      -32.1 %
Bananas (1 lb) $0.70 $0.67      -5.4 %
Oranges (1 lb) $2.33 $1.16      -50.2 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) $2.25 $1.62      -27.7 %
Potatoes (1 lb) $1.52 $1.16      -23.6 %
Onions (1 lb) $1.23 $1.45      +18.1 %
Lettuce (1 Head) $1.99 $1.79      -9.7 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) $2.26 $1.60      -29.3 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) $15.00 $8.25      -45.0 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) $2.94 $2.06      -30.0 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) $3.52 $5.25      +49.1 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) $9.75 $9.46      -3.0 %
Transportation
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) $1.75 $1.50      -14.3 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) $41.25 $48.00      +16.4 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) $2.75 $1.65      -40.0 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) $2.60 $2.25      -13.3 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) $35.00 $27.00      -22.9 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) $0.86 $0.84      -2.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) $35,356.00 $36,232.00      +2.5 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) $27,000.20 $25,141.15      -6.9 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) $200.93 $161.08      -19.8 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) $54.07 $71.25      +31.8 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) $66.83 $68.00      +1.7 %
Sports And Leisure
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership $64.14 $18.33      -71.4 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) $18.00 $8.50      -52.8 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) $15.00 $12.00      -20.0 %
Childcare
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child $1,488.47 $574.50      -61.4 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child $21,190.62 $6,930.00      -67.3 %
Clothing And Shoes
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) $53.50 $46.25      -13.6 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) $43.56 $36.50      -16.2 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) $86.08 $104.01      +20.8 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes $108.50 $176.00      +62.2 %
Rent Per Month
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre $1,963.25 $1,138.00      -42.0 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre $1,374.33 $878.20      -36.1 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre $3,850.00 $1,708.00      -55.6 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre $2,580.59 $1,506.67      -41.6 %
Buy Apartment Price
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre $661.94 $165.63      -75.0 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre $293.07 $165.22      -43.6 %
Salaries And Financing
Austin, TX Edit El Paso, TX Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) $5,055.77 $3,286.10      -35.0 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.44 6.13      -4.8 %
Last update: 6 June 20265 June 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:12114