Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Collin County, TX would need to be about $33,030 in El Paso County, TX, or $16,970 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Collin County, TX vs El Paso County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
El Paso County, TX is cheaper than Collin County, TX.
Moving to El Paso County, TX is estimated to save $21,164 per year.
Cheaper County
El Paso County, TXSave about $21,164 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Collin County, TX is about $33,030 in El Paso County, TX.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in El Paso County, TX. Housing saves $11,387 per year.
Housing: $11,387 lower in El Paso County, TX
Taxes: $4,882 lower in El Paso County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $402 lower in El Paso County, TX
Food: $635 lower in El Paso County, TX
Transport: $128 lower in El Paso County, TX
Collin County, TX→El Paso County, TX
Equivalent salary in El Paso County, TX
$33,030
-33.94% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Collin County, TX: $140,955
Median Income in El Paso County, TX: $65,744
Living Index in Collin County, TX 44.24%
Living Index in El Paso County, TX 62.65%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Collin County, TX to El Paso County, TX.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Collin County, TX to El Paso County, TX is estimated to save $21,164 per year. A $50,000 salary in Collin County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $33,030 in El Paso County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -33.94% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $11,387 per year lower (-53.61%); Taxes is $4,882 per year lower (-44.02%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Collin County, TX and El Paso County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 44.2% of median family income in Collin County, TX and 62.7% in El Paso County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $11,387 per year lower in El Paso County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether El Paso County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $635 per year lower in El Paso County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in El Paso County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $128 per year lower in El Paso County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around El Paso County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $402 per year lower in El Paso County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if El Paso County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,732 per year lower in El Paso County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in El Paso County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Collin County, TX and El Paso County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in El Paso County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,882 per year lower in El Paso County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in El Paso County, TX matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to El Paso County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to El Paso County, TX
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in El Paso County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to El Paso County, TX
Annual Savings:
$11,387 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to El Paso County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -54% lower | |
| Food | -15% lower | |
| Transport | -1% lower | |
| Healthcare | -7% lower | |
| Other Costs | -47% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -44% lower |
In El Paso County, TX, modeled annual costs are $41,190 compared with $62,354 in Collin County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in El Paso County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case El Paso County, TX and Collin County, TX are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
