Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 17% higher in Huntsville, AL. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$707
$815
+15% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$816
$900
+10% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,080
+9% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,251
+0% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$263,100
+53% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$70,778
+21% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$51,740
+31% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
60.2%
58.1%
+2.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
46.2%
+18.7 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
23.7 min
19.3 min
+4.4 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
483.2
+51% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,395.7
+59% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.6°F
62.1°F
+2.5°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
54.3 in
+44.6 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.62/gal
+1% in Huntsville, AL

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
16.4
+3% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$24.06
+25% 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 (TX / AL)
6.25%
4%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.00%
+5.0 pp in AL

El Paso vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Huntsville?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Huntsville?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).