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

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Santa Clarita

California
197

El Paso is 66% cheaper than Santa Clarita.

$1,041/mo ↓ 58%
Median Rent
$2,486/mo ↑ 139%
$58,734/yr ↓ 51%
Median Income
$119,926/yr ↑ 104%
$171,700 ↓ 76%
Home Value
$721,000 ↑ 320%
$1,044/mo ↓ 61%
Owner Costs
$2,649/mo ↑ 154%
678,147
Population
229,021

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
24.9%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Santa Clarita, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 197 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,445/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $17,340/year.

Median household income is $61,192/year higher in Santa Clarita. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $721,000 in Santa Clarita.

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 Clarita — common questions

Is El Paso or Santa Clarita cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 197 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Santa Clarita?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Santa Clarita it's $2,486/month — a difference of $1,445/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Santa Clarita?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $119,926 in Santa Clarita. Median household income is $61,192/year higher in Santa Clarita.
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 Clarita?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Santa Clarita has a cost index of 197 with rent of $2,486/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Santa Clarita details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for El Paso and Santa Clarita

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 Clarita vs. Spokane Santa Clarita vs. Fremont Santa Clarita vs. Enterprise Santa Clarita vs. Richmond Santa Clarita vs. Norfolk Santa Clarita vs. Baton Rouge