Arlington, TX vs El Paso, TX

The cost of living difference between Arlington, TX and El Paso, TX is dramatic. El Paso is 30% cheaper than Arlington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Arlington has a cost index of 101 while El Paso sits at 77, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $1,389/month compared to $1,041/month in El Paso — a 33% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: El Paso is more affordable at $171,700 median vs $276,400.

Median household income in Arlington is $73,519 compared to $58,734 in El Paso (+25.2%). The higher salaries in Arlington partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 21.3% in El Paso.