College Station, TX vs El Paso, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, El Paso, TX is 1.1% less expensive than College Station, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in College Station works out to about $74,100 in El Paso, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 5.1% less in El Paso. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,521 a month in El Paso and $1,504 in College Station, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $233,000 in El Paso and $305,000 in College Station.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when El Paso was 3.0% less expensive than College Station.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 5.1% lower in El Paso than in College Station
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
All items College Station, TX: 91.0 El Paso, TX: 89.9
Goods College Station, TX: 93.8 El Paso, TX: 93.8
Housing (rents) College Station, TX: 75.1 El Paso, TX: 71.2
Utilities College Station, TX: 84.4 El Paso, TX: 82.6
Other services College Station, TX: 96.2 El Paso, TX: 96.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 89.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 75.1 | 71.2 |
| Utilities | 84.4 | 82.6 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | College Station | El Paso | El Paso vs College Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 89.9 | −1.1% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 75.1 | 71.2 | −5.1% |
| Utilities | 84.4 | 82.6 | −2.1% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,504 | $1,521 | +1.1% |
| Typical home value | $305,000 | $233,000 | −23.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in College Station | $75,000 | $74,100 | −1.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between College Station and El Paso has narrowed since 2008: 2.6 points then, 1.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 92.5 |
| 2009 | 94.3 | 92.7 |
| 2010 | 95.9 | 94.6 |
| 2011 | 95.6 | 95.8 |
| 2012 | 96.5 | 95.6 |
| 2013 | 95.2 | 94.8 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 94.1 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 95.2 |
| 2017 | 94.6 | 94.7 |
| 2018 | 94.6 | 91.4 |
| 2019 | 94.5 | 91.6 |
| 2020 | 95.1 | 92.7 |
| 2021 | 94.9 | 92.8 |
| 2022 | 92.4 | 91.0 |
| 2023 | 91.3 | 90.8 |
| 2024 | 91.0 | 89.9 |
Goods
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.4 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.4 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 96.2 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 96.9 |
| 2016 | 96.6 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 96.3 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.4 | 71.6 |
| 2009 | 87.4 | 76.5 |
| 2010 | 87.1 | 79.4 |
| 2011 | 85.9 | 82.5 |
| 2012 | 89.2 | 81.0 |
| 2013 | 83.1 | 78.4 |
| 2014 | 82.8 | 74.7 |
| 2015 | 85.1 | 73.7 |
| 2016 | 85.1 | 76.9 |
| 2017 | 82.4 | 78.4 |
| 2018 | 88.4 | 72.1 |
| 2019 | 85.5 | 72.9 |
| 2020 | 84.2 | 73.5 |
| 2021 | 85.6 | 76.0 |
| 2022 | 79.9 | 73.4 |
| 2023 | 77.6 | 75.5 |
| 2024 | 75.1 | 71.2 |
Utilities
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.4 | 94.9 |
| 2009 | 95.0 | 91.1 |
| 2010 | 94.7 | 93.8 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 89.4 |
| 2012 | 89.1 | 88.6 |
| 2013 | 90.3 | 89.9 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 93.7 |
| 2015 | 91.1 | 91.7 |
| 2016 | 87.4 | 88.4 |
| 2017 | 84.2 | 84.1 |
| 2018 | 84.9 | 84.9 |
| 2019 | 87.2 | 86.2 |
| 2020 | 86.8 | 86.5 |
| 2021 | 86.5 | 86.6 |
| 2022 | 88.5 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 90.5 |
| 2024 | 84.4 | 82.6 |
Other services
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.8 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 99.7 | 100.7 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 100.7 |
| 2013 | 99.9 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.0 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 101.4 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 100.4 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,521 in El Paso vs $1,504 in College Station
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $972 | $930 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $994 | $938 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $992 | $941 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,015 | $930 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,026 | $935 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,031 | $940 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,014 | $937 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,031 | $932 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,066 | $941 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,063 | $949 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,023 | $949 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,054 | $948 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,076 | $955 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,057 | $969 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,032 | $972 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,064 | $976 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,093 | $983 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,082 | $995 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,076 | $1,004 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,099 | $1,005 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,118 | $1,024 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,101 | $1,047 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,109 | $1,075 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,145 | $1,082 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,153 | $1,095 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,159 | $1,141 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,204 | $1,178 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,232 | $1,208 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,246 | $1,256 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,271 | $1,300 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,306 | $1,331 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,332 | $1,342 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,345 | $1,366 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,358 | $1,389 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,367 | $1,393 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,392 | $1,401 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,403 | $1,414 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,409 | $1,438 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,445 | $1,432 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,455 | $1,436 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,464 | $1,452 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,460 | $1,467 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,506 | $1,470 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,518 | $1,466 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,503 | $1,481 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,475 | $1,506 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,504 | $1,521 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $233,000 in El Paso vs $305,000 in College Station
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- College Station, TX
- El Paso, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | El Paso, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $181K | $128K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $186K | $129K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $191K | $130K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $195K | $130K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $199K | $131K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $203K | $132K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $207K | $132K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $211K | $134K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $215K | $136K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $219K | $137K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $220K | $137K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $222K | $137K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $225K | $138K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $227K | $138K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $230K | $140K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $231K | $140K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $230K | $141K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $228K | $141K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $228K | $143K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $229K | $145K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $231K | $147K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $232K | $149K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $236K | $152K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $242K | $158K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $246K | $163K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $251K | $171K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $258K | $176K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $265K | $181K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $275K | $190K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $285K | $199K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $287K | $204K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $288K | $207K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $292K | $209K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $298K | $214K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $300K | $218K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $298K | $219K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $302K | $222K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $304K | $225K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $303K | $226K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $304K | $226K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $305K | $227K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $305K | $227K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $305K | $227K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $305K | $228K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $307K | $230K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $307K | $231K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $305K | $233K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.