Cost of Living: El Paso, TX vs Berkeley, CA (2026)

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Berkeley

California
251

El Paso is 73% cheaper than Berkeley.

$1,041/mo ↓ 51%
Median Rent
$2,127/mo ↑ 104%
$58,734/yr ↓ 46%
Median Income
$108,558/yr ↑ 85%
$171,700 ↓ 87%
Home Value
$1,351,100 ↑ 687%
$1,044/mo ↓ 55%
Owner Costs
$2,340/mo ↑ 124%
678,147
Population
120,223

Tax Comparison

0%
Income Tax
13.3%
6.25%
State Sales Tax
7.25%
1.6%
Property Tax
0.71%

Affordability

21.3%
rent-to-income
Affordability
23.5%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Berkeley, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 251 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,086/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $13,032/year.

Median household income is $49,824/year higher in Berkeley. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $1,351,100 in Berkeley.

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

El Paso vs Berkeley — common questions

Is El Paso or Berkeley cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 251 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Berkeley?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Berkeley it's $2,127/month — a difference of $1,086/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Berkeley?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $108,558 in Berkeley. Median household income is $49,824/year higher in Berkeley.
How do taxes compare between Texas and California?
Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax. California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax.
Should I move to El Paso or Berkeley?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Berkeley has a cost index of 251 with rent of $2,127/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Berkeley details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for El Paso and Berkeley

El Paso vs. Nashville El Paso vs. Washington El Paso vs. Oklahoma City El Paso vs. Boston El Paso vs. Denver El Paso vs. Las Vegas Berkeley vs. Ann Arbor Berkeley vs. Fairfield Berkeley vs. Lafayette Berkeley vs. Hartford Berkeley vs. Rochester Berkeley vs. West Palm Beach