City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 71 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and El Paso wins on cost of living and safety. 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
Los Angeles and El Paso are 700 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $860 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $59,745 in El Paso, down $22,194 (27%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 87 in El Paso, down 71 points (45%).
The move
El Paso and Los Angeles are 700 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $860 a month (80%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $22,194 (37%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 158 in Los Angeles, up 71 points (82%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
El Paso rent is 44% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so El Paso is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $860/month back in your pocket ($10,320/year). Over five years that's $51,600 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 Los Angeles, 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
37% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 37% higher than El Paso
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Los Angeles (about $22,194 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, Los Angeles 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
45% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 45% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. Los Angeles can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso sits near 72°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 44% 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 45% lower than Los Angeles (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
Rent is the clearest fork: El Paso at $1,073/month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles ($860 apart). Los Angeles median income is $81,939 against $59,745 in El Paso, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Pick El Paso when shaving $860 off rent at $1,073/month is the priority. Otherwise, Los Angeles's case rests on $1,933/month rent with $81,939 local income.
Common questions
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