El Paso vs Surprise
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
El Paso
Surprise
💡 The Verdict
El Paso is 17% cheaper than Surprise overall. A $75,000 salary in El Paso is equivalent to $90,000 in Surprise.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for El Paso (left) vs Surprise (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in El Paso versus Surprise. Differences shown from El Paso perspective.
| Item | El Paso | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $720/mo | $640/mo | +$80.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,000/mo | $960/mo | +$40.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,350/mo | $1,330/mo | +$20.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.54 | $3.00 | $-0.46 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.63 | $3.47 | +$0.16 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.33 | $2.77 | +$0.56 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.93 | $5.54 | +$0.39 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.25 | $3.55 | $-0.30 |
| Restaurant Meal | $15.28 | $15.22 | +$0.06 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in El Paso has the same purchasing power as $90,000 in Surprise.
Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $62,500 in El Paso.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1876 difference is driven by Arizona having a higher state income tax rate. Texas details → · Arizona details →
Reading These Numbers: El Paso (85) vs Surprise (102)
El Paso at 85 is 15% below the US average, while Surprise at 102 is 2% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In El Paso, the composite index of 85 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 69, followed by groceries (95), utilities (93), transportation (98), and healthcare (89). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,000/mo in El Paso and $960/mo in Surprise, the annual rent difference is approximately $480.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $2,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $113,000.0 difference in median home prices between El Paso and Surprise translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: El Paso vs Surprise
Choosing between El Paso and Surprise involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in El Paso versus Surprise depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.