El Paso, TX vs Lubbock, TX

El Paso is moderately more affordable than Lubbock, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. El Paso scores 77 compared to 83 for Lubbock, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lubbock can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month compared to $1,137/month in Lubbock — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: El Paso is more affordable at $171,700 median vs $197,900.

Median household income in El Paso is $58,734 compared to $60,487 in Lubbock (-2.9%). Lubbock does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of El Paso spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, less than the 22.6% in Lubbock.