Cost of Living: El Paso, TX vs Fargo, ND (2026)

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Fargo

North Dakota
73

El Paso is 8% cheaper than Fargo.

$1,041/mo ↑ 14%
Median Rent
$916/mo ↓ 12%
$58,734/yr ↓ 11%
Median Income
$66,029/yr ↑ 12%
$171,700 ↓ 36%
Home Value
$269,800 ↑ 57%
$1,044/mo ↑ 5%
Owner Costs
$997/mo ↓ 5%
678,147
Population
129,064

Tax Comparison

0%
Income Tax
2.5%
6.25%
State Sales Tax
5.0%
1.6%
Property Tax
0.98%

Affordability

21.3%
rent-to-income
Affordability
16.6%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Fargo, ND, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 73 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $125/month cheaper in Fargo, saving renters about $1,500/year.

Median household income is $7,295/year higher in Fargo. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $269,800 in Fargo.

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso residents a significant tax advantage over North Dakota's 2.5% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

El Paso vs Fargo — common questions

Is El Paso or Fargo cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 73 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Fargo?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Fargo it's $916/month — a difference of $125/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Fargo?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $66,029 in Fargo. Median household income is $7,295/year higher in Fargo.
How do taxes compare between Texas and North Dakota?
Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax. North Dakota has 2.5% income tax, 5.0% sales tax, and 0.98% property tax.
Should I move to El Paso or Fargo?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Fargo has a cost index of 73 with rent of $916/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Fargo details →

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