City Comparison

El Paso vs St George

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

El Paso

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$185,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$47,568
Median Income

St George

Utah
110
Above Average
$550,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$72,400
Median Income

The Verdict

22.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 22.7%, with El Paso being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in El Paso has equivalent purchasing power to $97,059 in St George.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
69
El Paso
144
St George
Groceries
95
El Paso
100
St George
Utilities
93
El Paso
87
St George
Transportation
98
El Paso
104
St George
Healthcare
89
El Paso
96
St George

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in El Paso has the same purchasing power as $97,059 in St George.

Conversely, $75,000 in St George equals $57,955 in El Paso.

Living in El Paso vs St George

Housing Costs

El Paso's housing index of 69 is lower St George's 144, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $550,000. The $365,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in El Paso compared to $1,525/mo in St George, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in El Paso and 100 in St George. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in El Paso vs $475/month in St George. 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 93 in El Paso and 87 in St George. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in El Paso vs $348 in St George. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 89 in El Paso and 96 in St George. 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 $47,568 in El Paso and $72,400 in St George. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,962 and $65,818 respectively. St George residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,110/month to housing in El Paso vs $1,689/month in St George. In El Paso, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In St George, median rent of $1,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

El Paso is 22.7% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in El Paso has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,059 in St George, based on the cost of living difference.
El Paso's housing index is 69 with median homes at $185,000, while St George's is 144 with median homes at $550,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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