El Paso, Texas
Living in El Paso, Texas is about 18% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 82 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,521 a month, 21% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.45 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 52% of the area's $58,859 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.45
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,521
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$15.51
Combo meal
Electricity
15.91¢
per kWh · ~$143/mo
Car Insurance
$240/mo
$2,880/yr
Median Household Income
$58,859
51.7% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,880 in El Paso. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,521/mo in El Paso. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
USDA national avg
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
Whole milk
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
White sandwich bread
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
80/20 blend
$6.79 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
Boneless skinless
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Regular Gasoline
State average per gallon
$3.62 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular GasolineState average per gallonLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +12.0% since 2022 |
| Eggs (dozen)USDA national avg | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)Whole milk | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Bread (loaf)White sandwich bread | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Ground Beef (lb)80/20 blend | — | — | — | — | — | $4.55 | $6.79 | +354.4% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)Boneless skinless | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$15.51
Casual Dining
$27.06
Monthly Spend
$530.34
+3.53% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's Big Mac
2022: $5.15
$6.23
+21.0%Chipotle Burrito Bowl
2022: $9.25
$12.51
+35.2%Starbucks Latte
2022: $5.45
$6.60
+21.1%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in El Paso?
Average 1BR: $1,247/mo · 2BR: $1,795/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
334k
Median Weekly Pay
$966
$50k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$59k
household median
Employment by Sector — El Paso
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$49k/yr
~$46k/yr
~$22k/yr
~$51k/yr
~$61k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 48141
Highest Paying Sector
Public Administration
$1,324/wk · $69k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$424/wk · $22k/yr
El Paso Cost of Living FAQ
Is El Paso, TX expensive to live in?
El Paso has a cost of living index of 82, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 18% cheaper than average. It is the most affordable of the 29 Texas cities we track.
What is the average rent in El Paso, TX?
Typical rent in El Paso is $1,521 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 21% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,247 and two bedrooms about $1,795. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in El Paso?
Rent in El Paso rose 3.5% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in El Paso?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.45 a gallon in El Paso as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Texas. That is 13% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in El Paso?
Homes in Texas pay an average of 15.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in El Paso is about $143.
How much is car insurance in El Paso?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,880 a year in Texas, or about $240 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in El Paso?
Median household income in the El Paso area is $58,859 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $30,421 a year, or 52% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does El Paso compare with the rest of Texas?
Rent in El Paso is 8% above the $1,412 average across the 29 Texas cities we track, and its cost of living index of 82 compares with a state average of 97.
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