How much rent can you afford in El Paso, TX?
Run your salary against El Paso's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in El Paso
At a median rent of $1,521/mo, El Paso is moderately stretched when measured against El Paso median household income of $59,745/yr. Rent would consume roughly 31% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $60,840 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How El Paso compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in El Paso?
On a $59,745 salary (the El Paso median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,494/mo. El Paso's median rent is $1,521/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in El Paso?
To keep El Paso's $1,521/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $60,840/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is El Paso affordable on the median Texas income?
El Paso is moderately stretched on a $59,745 income. Rent would take 31% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".