Dallas, TX vs El Paso, TX
Simple answer
You'd likely save $661 a month in El Paso.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is housing prices. The BEA housing price parity differs by 46.6 points (Dallas 117.9, El Paso 71.2).
Texas has no tax on wages. Texas has no tax on wages. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in Texas. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in Texas.
Both metros are in Texas, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Dallas lines up with about $65,413 in El Paso on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Dallas
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,807
- HUD area
- Dallas, TX HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,718
- All-items price parity
- 103.1
- Goods price parity
- 102.8
- Utilities price parity
- 90.7
- Mean commute
- 28.8 min
- Median household income
- $92,733
El Paso
El Paso, TX
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,146
- HUD area
- El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,081
- All-items price parity
- 89.9
- Goods price parity
- 93.8
- Utilities price parity
- 82.6
- Mean commute
- 24.3 min
- Median household income
- $59,834
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$65,413
Salary in El Paso that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$64,143
Gross salary in El Paso whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$47,565
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | Texas | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | No wage tax | No wage tax |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 1.31% | 1.31% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $5,246 a year in Texas and $5,246 in Texas. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in Texas
Dallas and El Paso are in Texas. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
WIC
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
School meals
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
LIHEAP
DallasMaybe
El PasoMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
Lifeline phone and internet
DallasLikely eligible
El PasoLikely eligible
SSI
DallasUnlikely
El PasoUnlikely
| Program | Dallas | El Paso |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Dallas
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Dallas.
- Dallas and San Francisco · rent gap $1,890
- Dallas and San Jose · rent gap $1,465
- Dallas and Boston · rent gap $1,201
- Dallas and New York · rent gap $1,164
- Dallas and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,157
- Dallas and San Diego · rent gap $1,016
- Dallas and McAllen · rent gap $790
- Dallas and Wichita · rent gap $764
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.