Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 5% higher in El Paso, TX. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$802
$707
+12% in Columbia, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$816
+20% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$993
+15% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,252
+6% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$171,700
+29% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$58,734
+6% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$39,510
+15% in Columbia, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
34.1 yr
+5.4 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
47.3%
60.2%
+12.9 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
27.5%
+18.6 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
23.7 min
+6.3 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
319.7
+58% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
1,509.3
+54% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.9°F
64.6°F
+0.3°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
9.7 in
+35.7 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.9
+3% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$31.89
+10% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Columbia vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or El Paso?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).