Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Wichita?

Wichita, KS 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 Wichita?

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

Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Wichita?

El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

El Paso vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$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 Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS 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 $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 7% higher in Wichita, KS. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$707

$726

+3% in Wichita, KS

1 Bedroom

$816

$761

+7% in El Paso, TX

2 Bedroom

$993

$976

+2% in El Paso, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,252

$1,199

+4% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$171,700

$179,500

+5% in Wichita, KS

Income

Median Household Income

$58,734

$63,072

+7% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,510

$47,630

+21% in Wichita, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.1 yr

35.7 yr

+1.6 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

60.2%

58.4%

+1.8 pp in El Paso, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.5%

30.9%

+3.4 pp in Wichita, KS

Avg Commute

23.7 min

18.9 min

+4.8 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.7

1,238.7

+287% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

1,509.3

5,284.9

+250% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+7.6°F in El Paso, TX

Annual Precipitation

9.7 in

32.6 in

+22.9 in in Wichita, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Wichita, KS

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

15.1

+8% in El Paso, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$25.12

+18% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Wichita, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in El Paso, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Wichita, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Wichita, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / KS)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

El Paso vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Wichita?: Wichita, KS 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 Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Wichita?: El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).