City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where El Paso and Atlanta split most clearly. El Paso scores 110 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,711 in Atlanta.
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. Atlanta 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
El Paso and Atlanta are 1,289 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $638 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $25,907 (43%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 197 in Atlanta, up 110 points (126%).
The move
Atlanta and El Paso are 1,289 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $638 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $59,745 in El Paso, down $25,907 (30%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 87 in El Paso, down 110 points (56%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
El Paso rent is 37% cheaper than Atlanta
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so El Paso is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $638/month back in your pocket ($7,656/year). Over five years that's $38,280 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 Atlanta, 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
43% higher
Atlanta's median income is 43% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Atlanta (about $25,907 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, Atlanta 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
56% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 56% lower than Atlanta
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta averages around 61°F. El Paso scores 12% 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 Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 37% 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 (66°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta 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 56% lower than Atlanta (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 43% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 39/100 in Atlanta. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,711/month in Atlanta, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Atlanta still pays more locally ($85,652 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Atlanta rates.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in El Paso; Atlanta only makes sense when you have walked the Atlanta ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,711 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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