Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 12% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$707
$795
+12% in Oklahoma City, OK
1 Bedroom
$816
$882
+8% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,085
+9% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,356
+8% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$215,100
+25% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$66,702
+14% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$47,230
+20% in Oklahoma City, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
35.0 yr
+0.9 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
60.2%
59.1%
+1.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
34.0%
+6.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
23.7 min
22.2 min
+1.5 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
685.6
+114% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,928.9
+94% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
61.5°F
+3.1°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
36.5 in
+26.8 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.35/gal
+10% in Oklahoma City, OK

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
$1.75
+17% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
13.6
+17% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$15.95
+35% in El Paso, TX

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 / OK)
6.25%
4.5%
+1.8 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in OK

El Paso vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Oklahoma City?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Oklahoma City?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).