same $100k income, fresh start from Baton Rouge

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

instead of baton rouge

El Paso

tx · metro 872k

photo: Gene Maysonet / pexels

a dispatch from

el paso

TX

31.76°N

106.49°W

El Paso has the Franklin Mountains running right through the middle of the city (which is rare), with hiking trails inside city limits and the desert wide open just past the suburbs. The Mexican food is exceptional in ways that the rest of Texas doesn't quite match (it's true regional border food). Ciudad Juarez is literally next door across the Rio Grande. The light at sunset is unreal.

metro872k

in our guides

#8

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best mid-sized US cities

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best affordable cities to retire

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for snowbirds

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Portland for

read the guide
#6

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Miami

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities where buying beats renting

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to live in Texas

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Minneapolis for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$138

cheaper each month than Baton Rouge

Cost barely budges between El Paso and Baton Rouge. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

8% more expensive than Baton Rouge(vs $1,361/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$250/mo less in state tax than Baton Rouge

vs 3% in Baton Rouge

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$138 more than Baton Rouge

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$231k

8% cheaper than Baton Rouge

vs $250k in Baton Rouge

05metro size

872k

vs 874k in Baton Rouge

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Baton Rouge only logs 187 pleasant days. Summers run hot, though: 60 days above 95° vs Baton Rouge's 25.

A month here packs 2.0× the events of Baton Rouge.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

30% higher than Baton Rouge

vs 50/100 in Baton Rouge

Closest outdoor draw: White Sands National Park, 72.1 mi.

·walk score®

93/100

24% higher than Baton Rouge

vs 75/100 in Baton Rouge

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

225% more than Baton Rouge

vs 4 nonstops in Baton Rouge

04 · see also

neighbors of el paso on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

roanoke

more things to do

turn the page

see also

lexington

more things to do

turn the page

see also

huntsville

more things to do

turn the page

compare el paso with:

RoanokeLexingtonHuntsville