College Station vs El Paso
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
El Paso
The Verdict
El Paso is 2.4% less expensive than College Station overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $73,276 in El Paso to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $73,276 in El Paso.
Conversely, $75,000 in El Paso equals $76,765 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs El Paso
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is higher El Paso's 69, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $185,000. The $129,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,388 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,000/mo in El Paso, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 95 in El Paso. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $451/month in El Paso. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 93 in El Paso. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $372 in El Paso. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 89 in El Paso. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $47,568 in El Paso. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $55,962 respectively. College Station residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,110/month in El Paso. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In El Paso, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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