Cost of Living: Denver vs El Paso (2026)

Denver vs El Paso cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. El Paso is about 15% less expensive than Denver overall — $100,000 in Denver is worth about $84,997 in El Paso.

El Paso is about 15% less expensive than Denver overall — $100,000 in Denver is worth about $84,997 in El Paso.

Denver vs El Paso: the numbers

MetricDenverEl PasoDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)10690-15%
Median rent$1,770$1,041-41%
Median home value$586,700$171,700-71%
Median household income$91,681$58,734-36%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in Denver has the same buying power as about $84,997 in El Paso. Going the other way, $100,000 in El Paso is like $117,651 in Denver.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Denver and El Paso.

Compare any salary: Denver vs El Paso

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Denver is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 106 vs 90 — a 15% difference. Your money goes further in El Paso.

About $84,997 — that's what you'd need in El Paso to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Denver.