El Paso, TX vs College Station, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, College Station, TX is 1.2% more expensive than El Paso, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in El Paso works out to about $75,900 in College Station, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 5.4% more in College Station. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,504 a month in College Station and $1,521 in El Paso, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $305,000 in College Station and $233,000 in El Paso.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when College Station was 3.1% more expensive than El Paso.
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: 5.4% higher in College Station than in El Paso
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, TX
All items El Paso, TX: 89.9 College Station, TX: 91.0
Goods El Paso, TX: 93.8 College Station, TX: 93.8
Housing (rents) El Paso, TX: 71.2 College Station, TX: 75.1
Utilities El Paso, TX: 82.6 College Station, TX: 84.4
Other services El Paso, TX: 96.2 College Station, TX: 96.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.9 | 91.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.2 | 75.1 |
| Utilities | 82.6 | 84.4 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | El Paso | College Station | College Station vs El Paso |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.9 | 91.0 | +1.2% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.2 | 75.1 | +5.4% |
| Utilities | 82.6 | 84.4 | +2.2% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,521 | $1,504 | −1.1% |
| Income needed to afford typical rent (30% rule) | $60,800 | $60,200 | −1.0% |
| Typical home value | $233,000 | $305,000 | +30.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in El Paso | $75,000 | $75,900 | +1.2% |
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 El Paso and College Station has narrowed since 2008: 2.6 points then, 1.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, TX
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.5 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 92.7 | 94.3 |
| 2010 | 94.6 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 95.8 | 95.6 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 94.8 | 95.2 |
| 2014 | 94.1 | 95.5 |
| 2015 | 94.0 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 95.2 | 96.4 |
| 2017 | 94.7 | 94.6 |
| 2018 | 91.4 | 94.6 |
| 2019 | 91.6 | 94.5 |
| 2020 | 92.7 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 92.8 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 91.0 | 92.4 |
| 2023 | 90.8 | 91.3 |
| 2024 | 89.9 | 91.0 |
Goods
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 96.4 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 94.5 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 97.2 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 96.9 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 96.3 |
| 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)
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 71.6 | 84.4 |
| 2009 | 76.5 | 87.4 |
| 2010 | 79.4 | 87.1 |
| 2011 | 82.5 | 85.9 |
| 2012 | 81.0 | 89.2 |
| 2013 | 78.4 | 83.1 |
| 2014 | 74.7 | 82.8 |
| 2015 | 73.7 | 85.1 |
| 2016 | 76.9 | 85.1 |
| 2017 | 78.4 | 82.4 |
| 2018 | 72.1 | 88.4 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 85.5 |
| 2020 | 73.5 | 84.2 |
| 2021 | 76.0 | 85.6 |
| 2022 | 73.4 | 79.9 |
| 2023 | 75.5 | 77.6 |
| 2024 | 71.2 | 75.1 |
Utilities
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.9 | 100.4 |
| 2009 | 91.1 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 93.8 | 94.7 |
| 2011 | 89.4 | 89.8 |
| 2012 | 88.6 | 89.1 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 90.3 |
| 2014 | 93.7 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 91.7 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 88.4 | 87.4 |
| 2017 | 84.1 | 84.2 |
| 2018 | 84.9 | 84.9 |
| 2019 | 86.2 | 87.2 |
| 2020 | 86.5 | 86.8 |
| 2021 | 86.6 | 86.5 |
| 2022 | 88.2 | 88.5 |
| 2023 | 90.5 | 89.1 |
| 2024 | 82.6 | 84.4 |
Other services
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 97.1 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 100.7 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 99.9 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 100.0 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 100.4 | 99.4 |
| 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: $1,504 in College Station vs $1,521 in El Paso
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, 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
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $930 | $972 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $938 | $994 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $941 | $992 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $930 | $1,015 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $935 | $1,026 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $940 | $1,031 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $937 | $1,014 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $932 | $1,031 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $941 | $1,066 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $949 | $1,063 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $949 | $1,023 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $948 | $1,054 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $955 | $1,076 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $969 | $1,057 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $972 | $1,032 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $976 | $1,064 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $983 | $1,093 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $995 | $1,082 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,004 | $1,076 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,005 | $1,099 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,024 | $1,118 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,047 | $1,101 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,075 | $1,109 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,082 | $1,145 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,095 | $1,153 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,141 | $1,159 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,178 | $1,204 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,208 | $1,232 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,256 | $1,246 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,300 | $1,271 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,331 | $1,306 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,342 | $1,332 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,366 | $1,345 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,389 | $1,358 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,393 | $1,367 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,401 | $1,392 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,414 | $1,403 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,438 | $1,409 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,432 | $1,445 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,436 | $1,455 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,452 | $1,464 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,467 | $1,460 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,470 | $1,506 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,466 | $1,518 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,481 | $1,503 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,506 | $1,475 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,521 | $1,504 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $305,000 in College Station vs $233,000 in El Paso
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- El Paso, TX
- College Station, 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
| El Paso, TX | College Station, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $128K | $181K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $129K | $186K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $130K | $191K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $130K | $195K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $131K | $199K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $132K | $203K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $132K | $207K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $134K | $211K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $136K | $215K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $137K | $219K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $137K | $220K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $137K | $222K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $138K | $225K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $138K | $227K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $140K | $230K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $140K | $231K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $141K | $230K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $141K | $228K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $143K | $228K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $145K | $229K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $147K | $231K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $149K | $232K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $152K | $236K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $158K | $242K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $163K | $246K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $171K | $251K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $176K | $258K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $181K | $265K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $190K | $275K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $199K | $285K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $204K | $287K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $207K | $288K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $209K | $292K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $214K | $298K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $218K | $300K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $219K | $298K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $222K | $302K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $225K | $304K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $226K | $303K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $226K | $304K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $227K | $305K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $227K | $305K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $227K | $305K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $228K | $305K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $230K | $307K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $231K | $307K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $233K | $305K | $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.