City comparison
El Paso is safer than Oakland. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where El Paso and Oakland split most clearly. El Paso scores 347 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 $1,979 in Oakland.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Oakland wins on the job market. 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 $1,073 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 Oakland are 987 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $906 a month (84%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $101,600 in Oakland, up $41,855 (70%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 434 in Oakland, up 347 points (399%).
The move
Oakland and El Paso are 987 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $906 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $59,745 in El Paso, down $41,855 (41%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 87 in El Paso, down 347 points (80%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
El Paso rent is 46% cheaper than Oakland
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,979 in Oakland, so El Paso is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $906/month back in your pocket ($10,872/year). Over five years that's $54,360 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 Oakland, 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
70% higher
Oakland's median income is 70% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 70% higher in Oakland (about $41,855 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, Oakland 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
80% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 80% lower than Oakland
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Oakland are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland
67°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 71°F (78°F highs); Oakland averages about 67°F (81°F highs). El Paso sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oakland sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% 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.
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 80% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 70% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward El Paso: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 15/100 in Oakland, with typical rent at $1,073 versus $1,979. I would vet the exact ZIP in Oakland before trading 49 safety points for housing savings.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oakland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oakland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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