Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,010 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 29% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$998
$707
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$816
+37% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$993
+34% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,252
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$171,700
+59% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$58,734
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$39,510
+25% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
34.1 yr
+1.5 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
60.2%
+1.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
27.5%
+14.4 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.7 min
+0.9 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
319.7
+56% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
1,509.3
+57% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
64.6°F
+15.6°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
9.7 in
+6.8 in in Colorado Springs, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$3.96/gal
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.50
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
16.4
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$24.61
+111% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / TX)
2.9%
6.25%
+3.4 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
None
+4.4 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or El Paso?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).