Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Salem?

El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Salem?

El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

El Paso vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 18% higher in Salem, OR. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

El Paso, TX

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$707

$1,075

+52% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$816

$989

+21% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$993

$1,337

+35% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,252

$1,778

+42% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$171,700

$382,400

+123% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$58,734

$71,900

+22% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,510

$55,310

+40% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.1 yr

35.7 yr

+1.6 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

60.2%

55.7%

+4.5 pp in El Paso, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.5%

31.4%

+3.9 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

23.7 min

22.4 min

+1.3 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.7

540.6

+69% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

1,509.3

2,878.6

+91% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+11.6°F in El Paso, TX

Annual Precipitation

9.7 in

39.7 in

+30.0 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+41% in Salem, OR

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

16.3

+1% in El Paso, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$20.59

+32% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in El Paso, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / OR)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.90%

+9.9 pp in OR

El Paso vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Salem?: El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Salem?: El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).