Is New York City cheaper than El Paso?

El Paso is 56% more expensive than New York City based on the C2ER Cost of Living Index. El Paso has a COL index of 82 vs 187 for New York City.

What salary do I need in El Paso to match $100,000 in New York City?

To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in New York City, you would need approximately $40,000 in El Paso. This accounts for both the cost of living difference and state income tax rates (New York City: 6.85% state tax, El Paso: no state tax).

New York City vs El Paso
Cost of Living (2026)

El Paso is 56% more affordable than New York City. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs New York's 6.85%.

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At a glance

New York City, NY

COL index187

State income tax6.85%

Avg 1BR rent$3,400/mo

Median home price$750K

El Paso, TX

COL index82 ✓

State income taxNone ✓

Avg 1BR rent$850/mo ✓

Median home price$190K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

Category	New York City index	El Paso index	Difference
Housing	247	106 ✓	-141%
Groceries	175	78 ✓	-97%
Transportation	173	80 ✓	-93%
Healthcare	180	80 ✓	-100%
Utilities	164	82 ✓	-82%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost. How we calculate this →

Salary equivalency: New York City → El Paso

What salary in El Paso gives you the same purchasing power as your New York City salary?

Salary in New York City	Equivalent in El Paso	Difference
$60,000	$24,000	$-36,000
$80,000	$32,000	$-48,000
$100,000	$40,000	$-60,000
$130,000	$51,000	$-79,000
$150,000	$59,000	$-91,000
$200,000	$79,000	$-121,000

New York City vs El Paso: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between New York City, NY and El Paso, TX, El Paso comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 82 versus 187 for New York City — a difference of approximately 56%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving El Paso workers an immediate 6.85% take-home pay advantage over New York City workers who pay New York's 6.85% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in New York City is $750,000, compared to $190,000 in El Paso. Average 1-bedroom rent is $3,400/month in New York City versus $850/month in El Paso.

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New York City vs El PasoCost of Living (2026)