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

El Paso

Texas
67
VS

Sunnyvale

California
341

El Paso is 80% cheaper than Sunnyvale.

$1,041/mo ↓ 66%
Median Rent
$3,065/mo ↑ 194%
$58,734/yr ↓ 68%
Median Income
$181,862/yr ↑ 210%
$171,700 ↓ 91%
Home Value
$1,816,600 ↑ 958%
$1,044/mo ↓ 65%
Owner Costs
$3,016/mo ↑ 189%
678,147
Population
153,455

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
20.2%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing El Paso, TX and Sunnyvale, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 67 and 341 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $2,024/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $24,288/year.

Median household income is $123,128/year higher in Sunnyvale. Home values also differ significantly — the median in El Paso is $171,700 compared to $1,816,600 in Sunnyvale.

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 Sunnyvale — common questions

Is El Paso or Sunnyvale cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 341 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between El Paso and Sunnyvale?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month and in Sunnyvale it's $3,065/month — a difference of $2,024/month.
Which city has higher income, El Paso or Sunnyvale?
Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso and $181,862 in Sunnyvale. Median household income is $123,128/year higher in Sunnyvale.
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 Sunnyvale?
It depends on your priorities. El Paso has a cost index of 67 with median rent of $1,041/mo, while Sunnyvale has a cost index of 341 with rent of $3,065/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View El Paso details → View Sunnyvale details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for El Paso and Sunnyvale

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 Sunnyvale vs. Springfield Sunnyvale vs. Hollywood Sunnyvale vs. Kansas City Sunnyvale vs. Roseville Sunnyvale vs. Killeen Sunnyvale vs. Charleston