CostIndexUSA

El Paso, TX vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
MN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

El Paso is slightly cheaper than Rochester — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $80,800 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+10.4%
El Paso
71.2
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries+1.7%
El Paso
93.8
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation4.3%
El Paso
101.1
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare4.2%
El Paso
91.4
Rochester
87.6
Utilities+5.8%
El Paso
82.6
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in El Paso to see what you'd need to earn in Rochester to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$80,800
$800 more needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 89.9) = salary × 1.0100. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Rochester has 10.4% higher housing costs compared to El Paso.

Income & Job Market

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.