Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 34% higher in West Valley City, UT. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,085
+53% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,191
+46% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,333
+34% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,723
+38% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$377,300
+120% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$88,604
+51% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$55,240
+40% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
30.3 yr
+3.8 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.2%
71.1%
+10.9 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
15.7%
+11.8 pp in El Paso, TX
Avg Commute
23.7 min
22.2 min
+1.5 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
471.8
+48% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
1,509.3
1,855.5
+23% in West Valley City, UT

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
52.8°F
+11.8°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
16.1 in
+6.4 in in West Valley City, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$4.27/gal
+19% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
13.4
+16% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$11.84
+63% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in El Paso, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / UT)
6.25%
6.1%
+0.2 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

El Paso vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or West Valley City?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in West Valley 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 $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or West Valley City?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).