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

San Francisco

California
267
VS

El Paso

Texas
67

San Francisco is 299% more expensive than El Paso.

$2,419/mo ↑ 132%
Median Rent
$1,041/mo ↓ 57%
$141,446/yr ↑ 141%
Median Income
$58,734/yr ↓ 58%
$1,380,500 ↑ 704%
Home Value
$171,700 ↓ 88%
$2,620/mo ↑ 151%
Owner Costs
$1,044/mo ↓ 60%
836,321
Population
678,147

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.6%

Affordability

20.5%
rent-to-income
Affordability
21.3%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing San Francisco, CA and El Paso, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 267 and 67 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,378/month cheaper in El Paso, saving renters about $16,536/year.

Median household income is $82,712/year higher in San Francisco. Home values also differ significantly — the median in San Francisco is $1,380,500 compared to $171,700 in El Paso.

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

San Francisco vs El Paso — common questions

Is San Francisco or El Paso cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, El Paso is cheaper to live in with an index of 67 compared to 267 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between San Francisco and El Paso?
Median rent in San Francisco is $2,419/month and in El Paso it's $1,041/month — a difference of $1,378/month.
Which city has higher income, San Francisco or El Paso?
Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco and $58,734 in El Paso. Median household income is $82,712/year higher in San Francisco.
How do taxes compare between California and Texas?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax.
Should I move to San Francisco or El Paso?
It depends on your priorities. San Francisco has a cost index of 267 with median rent of $2,419/mo, while El Paso has a cost index of 67 with rent of $1,041/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View San Francisco details → View El Paso details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for San Francisco and El Paso

San Francisco vs. Indianapolis San Francisco vs. Seattle San Francisco vs. Charlotte San Francisco vs. Denver San Francisco vs. Columbus San Francisco vs. Oklahoma City 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