Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,010 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 28% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$707
+58% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$816
+48% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$993
+42% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,252
+20% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$171,700
+59% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$58,734
+28% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$39,510
+23% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
34.1 yr
+0.1 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
46.3%
60.2%
+13.9 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
27.5%
+30.9 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
23.7 min
+3.1 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
319.7
+47% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
1,509.3
+57% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
64.6°F
+2.0°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
9.7 in
+40.0 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.50
+40% in Atlanta, GA

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs Sun Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.4
+9% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$24.61
+34% in El Paso, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or El Paso?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).