City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and El Paso is significant: $123,860 median household versus $59,745. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle 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. Seattle 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
Seattle and El Paso are 1,376 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $957 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $59,745 in El Paso, down $64,115 (52%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 87 in El Paso, down 165 points (65%).
The move
El Paso and Seattle are 1,376 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $957 a month (89%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $123,860 in Seattle, up $64,115 (107%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 252 in Seattle, up 165 points (190%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
El Paso rent is 47% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $2,030 in Seattle, so El Paso is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $957/month back in your pocket ($11,484/year). Over five years that's $57,420 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 Seattle, 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
107% higher
Seattle's median income is 107% higher than El Paso
Seattle
Winner$123,860
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 107% higher in Seattle (about $64,115 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, Seattle 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
65% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 65% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 52% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
El Paso
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 53°F (60°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Seattle averages around 53°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 52% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 107% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 47% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 52%. Seattle 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 65% lower than Seattle (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,073/month in El Paso versus $2,030 in Seattle. Median income reads $59,745 in El Paso and $123,860 in Seattle, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Seattle deserves a serious look only when your $123,860 income offer in Seattle outweighs saving $957/month in El Paso.
Common questions
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