El Paso vs Tucson: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in El Paso, Texas compare to Tucson, Arizona? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: El Paso is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 27% lower in El Paso compared to Tucson, while rent is 2% lower. TX has no state income tax.
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Tucson, AZ | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $159,300 | $218,200 | -27.0% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 | $991 | -1.5% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $52,049 | +7.0% |
| Per Capita Income | $27,434 | $29,009 | -5.4% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | None | 2.5% | -100.0% |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.2% | 8.4% | -2.0% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 677,181 | 541,033 | +25.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — El Paso
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Tucson
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in El Paso costs $159,300 compared to $218,200 in Tucson — a 27% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $976/mo in El Paso vs $991/mo in Tucson.
- Income: Median household income is $55,710 in El Paso and $52,049 in Tucson.
- Taxes: Texas has no state income tax, while Arizona has a 2.5% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).