$100k a year, no longer in San Diego

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

instead of san diego

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

$2,192

less monthly outlay than San Diego

El Paso sits well below San Diego on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

49% cheaper than San Diego(vs $2,890/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$775/mo less in state tax than San Diego

vs 9.3% in San Diego

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$2,192 more than San Diego

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

04a house here

$231k

77% cheaper than San Diego

vs $1010k in San Diego

05metro size

872k

vs 3.3M in San Diego

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

San Diego has the edge here, logging 332 pleasant days a year. Bring the AC. 60 days a year clear 95°, well past San Diego's 0.

San Diego hosts 5.8× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

13% lower than San Diego

vs 75/100 in San Diego

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

·walk score®

93/100

6% lower than San Diego

vs 99/100 in San Diego

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

76% fewer than San Diego

vs 55 nonstops in San Diego

04 · see also

cities that play in el paso's register:

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