Before You Move ThereBefore You Move There
New search

City comparison

Austin, TX vs El Paso, TX

Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and El Paso. Austin averages 92°F while El Paso averages 87°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,852 versus $1,191.

This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and schools and El Paso wins on cost of living, safety, and weather. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.

The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,191 average has pockets that run $991 and others at $1,591: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.

Full Austin reportFull El Paso report

Austin, TX

Rent
1,852/mo
Median income
86,556
Crime index
117
Schools
A
Weather
92°F

El Paso, TX

Rent
1,191/mo
Median income
55,710
Crime index
82
Schools
A-
Weather
87°F

Rent

36% cheaper

El Paso rent is 36% cheaper than Austin

Austin

$1,852/mo

El Paso

Winner

$1,191/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,191 a month in El Paso versus $1,852 in Austin, so El Paso is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $661/month back in your pocket ($7,932/year). Over five years that's $39,660 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

Check rates

Median income

55% higher

Austin's median income is 55% higher than El Paso

Austin

Winner

$86,556

El Paso

$55,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $55,710 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Austin (about $30,846 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

30% lower crime

El Paso's crime index is 30% lower than Austin

Austin

117 (100 = avg)

El Paso

Winner

82 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

El Paso's crime index is 82 versus 117 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in El Paso. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, El Paso is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than El Paso

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

El Paso

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in El Paso. School scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear (or reverse) two neighborhoods over. El Paso is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

74% more comfortable

El Paso weather is 74% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

92°F avg · 104°F highs · comfort 38/100

El Paso

Winner

87°F avg · 96°F highs · comfort 66/100

What this means for your life

Austin averages about 92°F (104°F highs); El Paso averages about 87°F (96°F highs). Austin often hits 104°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. El Paso runs very hot summers (highs near 96°F), which means indoor living for large stretches of the year. El Paso scores 74% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Austin if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 55% higher here ($86,556). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Parents (or anyone planning kids in the next few years) should weight Austin first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). El Paso only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose El Paso

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $1,191 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (87°F) beat Austin on this page's weather index by 74%. Austin may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.

El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Austin (82 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the El Paso report →

Bottom line

Austin vs El Paso: Our Take

El Paso wins overall, but the margin is thinner than the category headlines suggest (3 wins to 2).

El Paso's typical rent runs 36% lower than Austin ($1,191/month vs $1,852/month), which is real money over a lease.

The main trade-off: Austin's median household income is 55% higher ($86,556 vs $55,710), which can offset housing cost for higher earners.

The decision comes down to whether you value cost of living more than the job market. For most middle-income movers, El Paso is the stronger choice.

Common questions

Austin vs El Paso FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than El Paso?
No. El Paso is cheaper: typical rent is $1,191 a month versus $1,852 in Austin (36% lower). Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $55,710 in El Paso, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or El Paso?
El Paso is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 82 versus 117 in Austin (30% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or El Paso?
Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in El Paso. School scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

Ready to move to El Paso?

Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps

Tools for your move

Quotes and listings for El Paso when you're ready to act.

Keep researching

Explore more comparisons

Nearby research

Related Cities

Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and El Paso, plus other cities in TX.