Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 22% higher in El Paso, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$707
$760
+7% in Springfield, MO
1 Bedroom
$816
$772
+5% in El Paso, TX
2 Bedroom
$993
$926
+7% in El Paso, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,158
+8% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$165,200
+4% in El Paso, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$45,984
+22% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$45,780
+16% in Springfield, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
33.6 yr
+0.5 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.2%
42.9%
+17.3 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
30.3%
+2.8 pp in Springfield, MO
Avg Commute
23.7 min
18.0 min
+5.7 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
1,189.8
+272% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
1,509.3
4,231.6
+180% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+8.3°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
45.6 in
+35.9 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Springfield, MO

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
13.7
+17% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$24.13
+21% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in El Paso, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MO)
6.25%
4.225%
+2.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.70%
+4.7 pp in MO

El Paso vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Springfield?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).