Living Cost Compare
Dallas

Texas

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

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 13% higher in Dallas, TX. Both cities are in Texas, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$707
+44% in Dallas, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,280
$816
+36% in Dallas, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,500
$993
+34% in Dallas, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,559
$1,252
+20% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$295,300
$171,700
+42% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$67,760
$58,734
+13% in Dallas, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$39,510
+23% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.1 yr
+0.7 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
42.4%
60.2%
+17.8 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
27.5%
+9.9 pp in Dallas, TX
Avg Commute
26.0 min
23.7 min
+2.3 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
661.7
319.7
+52% in Dallas, TX
Property Crime
3,411.8
1,509.3
+56% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.2°F
64.6°F
+2.6°F in Dallas, TX
Annual Precipitation
37.6 in
9.7 in
+27.9 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$3.96/gal
about equal

Area: Texas vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.50
+40% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$24.61
about equal

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 (TX / TX)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Dallas vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or El Paso?
Neither — both are in Texas, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).