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

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Ontario

California
152

El Paso is 56% cheaper than Ontario.

$1,041/mo ↓ 46%
Median Rent
$1,916/mo ↑ 84%
$58,734/yr ↓ 29%
Median Income
$82,806/yr ↑ 41%
$171,700 ↓ 70%
Home Value
$568,000 ↑ 231%
$1,044/mo ↓ 47%
Owner Costs
$1,967/mo ↑ 88%
678,147
Population
178,347

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
27.8%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Ontario, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 152 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $875/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $10,500/year.

Median household income is $24,072/year higher in Ontario. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $568,000 in Ontario.

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 Ontario — common questions

Is El Paso or Ontario cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 152 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Ontario?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Ontario it's $1,916/month — a difference of $875/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Ontario?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $82,806 in Ontario. Median household income is $24,072/year higher in Ontario.
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 Ontario?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Ontario has a cost index of 152 with rent of $1,916/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Ontario details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for El Paso and Ontario

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 Ontario vs. Aurora Ontario vs. Eugene Ontario vs. Chattanooga Ontario vs. Elk Grove Ontario vs. Fort Lauderdale Ontario vs. Santa Rosa