City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,073 in El Paso.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and El Paso are 1,249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $367 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $59,745 in El Paso, down $18,157 (23%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 87 in El Paso, down 80 points (48%).
The move
El Paso and Chicago are 1,249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $367 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $77,902 in Chicago, up $18,157 (30%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 167 in Chicago, up 80 points (92%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
El Paso rent is 25% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,440 in Chicago, so El Paso is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $367/month back in your pocket ($4,404/year). Over five years that's $22,020 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 Chicago, 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.
Median income
30% higher
Chicago's median income is 30% higher than El Paso
Chicago
Winner$77,902
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Chicago (about $18,157 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, Chicago 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
48% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 48% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
El Paso
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso scores 20% 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 Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
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 25% cheaper here at about $1,073 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 (72°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 20%. Chicago 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 48% lower than Chicago (87 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 44/100 in Chicago. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,440/month in Chicago, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Between Chicago and El Paso, El Paso is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 44/100. Lean Chicago instead when you already know the Chicago block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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