Cost of Living: El Paso, TX vs Arlington, VA (2026)

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Arlington

Virginia
203

El Paso is 67% cheaper than Arlington.

$1,041/mo ↓ 54%
Median Rent
$2,275/mo ↑ 119%
$58,734/yr ↓ 58%
Median Income
$140,160/yr ↑ 139%
$171,700 ↓ 80%
Home Value
$864,800 ↑ 404%
$1,044/mo ↓ 57%
Owner Costs
$2,414/mo ↑ 131%
678,147
Population
235,463

Tax Comparison

0%
Income Tax
5.75%
6.25%
State Sales Tax
5.3%
1.6%
Property Tax
0.8%

Affordability

21.3%
rent-to-income
Affordability
19.5%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Arlington, VA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 203 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,234/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $14,808/year.

Median household income is $81,426/year higher in Arlington. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $864,800 in Arlington.

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso residents a significant tax advantage over Virginia's 5.75% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

El Paso vs Arlington — common questions

Is El Paso or Arlington cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 203 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Arlington?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Arlington it's $2,275/month — a difference of $1,234/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Arlington?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $140,160 in Arlington. Median household income is $81,426/year higher in Arlington.
How do taxes compare between Texas and Virginia?
Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax. Virginia has 5.75% income tax, 5.3% sales tax, and 0.8% property tax.
Should I move to El Paso or Arlington?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Arlington has a cost index of 203 with rent of $2,275/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Arlington details →

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