Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or El Paso?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in El Paso?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in El Paso.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or El Paso?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs El Paso Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 33% higher in El Paso, TX. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio

$678

$707

+4% in El Paso, TX

1 Bedroom

$732

$816

+11% in El Paso, TX

2 Bedroom

$903

$993

+10% in El Paso, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,252

+16% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$171,700

+82% in El Paso, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$58,734

+50% in El Paso, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$39,510

+21% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

34.1 yr

+2.2 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

60.2%

+19.0 pp in El Paso, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

27.5%

+6.2 pp in El Paso, TX

Avg Commute

22.9 min

23.7 min

+0.8 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

319.7

+80% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

1,509.3

+67% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

64.6°F

+11.9°F in El Paso, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

9.7 in

+26.6 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.62/gal

+13% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

16.4

+16% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$30.48

+34% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in El Paso, TX

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / TX)

5.75%

6.25%

+0.5 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Cleveland vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or El Paso?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in El Paso?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or El Paso?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).