El Paso, TX vs. Houston, TX: Cost of Living
Side-by-side comparison of El Paso and Houston, built from Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 estimates.
The numbers
| Measure | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 680,130 | 2,328,253 | +242.3% |
| Median household income | $59,745 | $64,813 | +8.5% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,073 | $1,361 | +26.8% |
| Median home value | $184,500 | $277,800 | +50.6% |
Difference is Houston, TX relative to El Paso, TX.
Purchasing power
Using state-level price parities (BEA RPP 2024: Texas 97.1, Texas 97.1, U.S. = 100), a $100,000 salary in El Paso, TX buys about as much as $100,000 in Houston, TX.
State-level price index; city prices within a state vary. See methodology.
Housing affordability
| Measure | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Salary needed for median rent (30% rule) | $42,920 | $54,440 |
| Rent burden at local median income | 21.6% | 25.2% |
| Est. affordable home price at median income | $217,946 | $236,434 |
Home price assumes 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI, 1.5%/yr taxes+insurance. Not financial advice.
Full city profiles
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.