Median rent is 39% lower in El Paso ($1,073/mo vs $1,758/mo). Buying is cheaper in El Paso, where the median home runs $184,500 versus $518,100. Households earn more in Miami ($62,462 vs $59,745 a year). Taken together, El Paso is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 97.3 against 112.1 — about 13% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in El Paso, TX.
Cost of living verdict
El Paso is 13% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 97.3 in El Paso vs 112.1 in Miami (US national average = 100)
City A
El Paso, TX
City B
Miami, FL
How much would you need to earn in Miami, FL to maintain your standard of living from El Paso, TX?
Equivalent salary in Miami, FL
$86,357
You'd need $11,357 more (15% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
El Paso
Texas
Miami
Florida
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in El Paso — median rent of $1,073/mo versus $1,758/mo in Miami, a 39% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Miami: the median home is $518,100 versus $184,500 in El Paso — 64% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
El Paso
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Miami
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: El Paso averages 36.0 AQI (Good) and Miami averages 37.0 AQI (Good).
Pick El Paso if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 97.3 vs 112.1).
Pick El Paso if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,073/mo median).
Is El Paso cheaper than Miami?
El Paso is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 97.3 versus 112.1 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 13% lower in El Paso.
How much is rent in El Paso vs Miami?
Median rent is $1,073/mo in El Paso, TX and $1,758/mo in Miami, FL. El Paso, TX has the lower rent by about 39%.
Which has higher salaries — El Paso or Miami?
Median household income is $59,745 in El Paso, TX and $62,462 in Miami, FL. Miami, FL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
El Paso, TX has better air quality on average: 36.0 AQI versus 37.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — El Paso or Miami?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Miami to match my El Paso income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in El Paso, TX is equivalent to roughly $115,143 in Miami, FL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
