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

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Santa Clara

California
307

El Paso is 78% cheaper than Santa Clara.

$1,041/mo ↓ 65%
Median Rent
$2,985/mo ↑ 187%
$58,734/yr ↓ 66%
Median Income
$173,670/yr ↑ 196%
$171,700 ↓ 89%
Home Value
$1,527,900 ↑ 790%
$1,044/mo ↓ 66%
Owner Costs
$3,051/mo ↑ 192%
678,147
Population
129,239

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
20.6%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Santa Clara, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 307 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,944/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $23,328/year.

Median household income is $114,936/year higher in Santa Clara. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $1,527,900 in Santa Clara.

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 Santa Clara — common questions

Is El Paso or Santa Clara cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 307 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Santa Clara?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Santa Clara it's $2,985/month — a difference of $1,944/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Santa Clara?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $173,670 in Santa Clara. Median household income is $114,936/year higher in Santa Clara.
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 Santa Clara?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Santa Clara has a cost index of 307 with rent of $2,985/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Santa Clara details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for El Paso and Santa Clara

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 Santa Clara vs. Carrollton Santa Clara vs. Fargo Santa Clara vs. New Haven Santa Clara vs. Norman Santa Clara vs. Sterling Heights Santa Clara vs. Lewisville