Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,010 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 25% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$707
+50% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$816
+41% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$993
+33% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,252
+25% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$171,700
+51% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$58,734
+25% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$39,510
+21% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
34.1 yr
+0.3 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
51.5%
60.2%
+8.7 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
27.5%
+19.9 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.7 min
+1.3 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
319.7
+56% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,719
1,509.3
+59% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
64.6°F
+4.7°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
9.7 in
+31.9 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Charlotte, NC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
$1.50
+32% in Charlotte, NC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
16.4
+2% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$24.61
+41% 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 (NC / TX)
4.75%
6.25%
+1.5 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
None
+4.0 pp in NC

Charlotte vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Charlotte, NC's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or El Paso?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).