Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 27% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,468
+108% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,688
+107% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$993
$2,148
+116% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$2,489
+99% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$879,500
+412% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$80,366
+37% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$55,850
+41% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.9 yr
+2.8 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
60.2%
36.3%
+23.9 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
37.8%
+10.3 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
23.7 min
31.1 min
+7.4 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
730.5
+128% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,509.3
1,501.2
+1% in El Paso, TX

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
67.0°F
+2.4°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
21.2 in
+11.5 in in Los Angeles, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$5.89/gal
+49% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Texas vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
$1.75
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
33.4
+103% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$20.72
+16% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Los Angeles, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / CA)
6.25%
7.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
13.30%
+13.3 pp in CA

El Paso vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Los Angeles?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Los Angeles?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).