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

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Irvine

California
256

El Paso is 74% cheaper than Irvine.

$1,041/mo ↓ 64%
Median Rent
$2,893/mo ↑ 178%
$58,734/yr ↓ 55%
Median Income
$129,647/yr ↑ 121%
$171,700 ↓ 85%
Home Value
$1,115,400 ↑ 550%
$1,044/mo ↓ 64%
Owner Costs
$2,904/mo ↑ 178%
678,147
Population
308,160

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
26.8%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Irvine, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 256 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,852/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $22,224/year.

Median household income is $70,913/year higher in Irvine. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $1,115,400 in Irvine.

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 Irvine — common questions

Is El Paso or Irvine cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 256 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Irvine?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Irvine it's $2,893/month — a difference of $1,852/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Irvine?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $129,647 in Irvine. Median household income is $70,913/year higher in Irvine.
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 Irvine?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Irvine has a cost index of 256 with rent of $2,893/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Irvine details →

More Comparisons

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