Portland vs El Paso: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Portland, OR and El Paso, TX, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Portland, OR | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 646,101 | 677,181 |
| Median household income | $85,876 | $55,710 |
| Median home value | $523,100 | $159,300 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,530 | $976 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Portland, OR and El Paso, TX comes down to what you value most. El Paso has the lower median home value, and El Paso has the lower median rent.
Portland has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Portland or El Paso?
- By median home value, El Paso is the cheaper of the two ($159,300 vs $523,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Portland or El Paso?
- Median household income is $85,876 in Portland versus $55,710 in El Paso, per the US Census Bureau.