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

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Fullerton

California
195

El Paso is 66% cheaper than Fullerton.

$1,041/mo ↓ 51%
Median Rent
$2,124/mo ↑ 104%
$58,734/yr ↓ 44%
Median Income
$104,219/yr ↑ 77%
$171,700 ↓ 80%
Home Value
$859,600 ↑ 401%
$1,044/mo ↓ 54%
Owner Costs
$2,251/mo ↑ 116%
678,147
Population
141,278

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
24.5%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Fullerton, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 195 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,083/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $12,996/year.

Median household income is $45,485/year higher in Fullerton. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $859,600 in Fullerton.

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 Fullerton — common questions

Is El Paso or Fullerton cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 195 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Fullerton?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Fullerton it's $2,124/month — a difference of $1,083/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Fullerton?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $104,219 in Fullerton. Median household income is $45,485/year higher in Fullerton.
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 Fullerton?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Fullerton has a cost index of 195 with rent of $2,124/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Fullerton details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for El Paso and Fullerton

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 Fullerton vs. Waco Fullerton vs. Metairie Fullerton vs. Visalia Fullerton vs. Orange Fullerton vs. Thornton Fullerton vs. Warren