Cost of living in El Paso? (Dallas: sales, apartment, car insurance)

[angerdux]

My husband and I are looking for a retirement home in the Southwest. We love El Paso, its funkiness and vibrancy. But I keep reading about high taxes on this forum. Can anyone give me an idea of property tax and general costs such as homeowner's insurance, car insurance, the price of utilities, sales tax? I would so appreciate it.

We've been thinking about the North Hills or the Northeast and we will probably look for a house in the 150-180K range.

Again, thanks.

[XChucoresident]

yes...taxes are high..my family always tells me..but being senior citizens ..I think you get a discount

[Gary Siete]

https://www.city-data.com/forum/el-pa...-tax-rate.html

The El Paso property tax rate is just under $22 per $1000 in value.

[MooleniumCrunch]

I believe your property taxes are locked after the age of 65 (can someone verify this?), though they are a bit higher than in other places. The good news is that, at least in my experience, utilities are not that expensive (our most expensive bill is our water bill, and it comes to ~60 every month). When I lived in Dallas I used to pay only ~15 for my water, granted, in a 1-bedroom apartment, but I would pay 80-100 for the electricity. Property prices are reasonable in my opinion, you can get a big house for a good price, and in a good neighborhood.

[lipbalm]

If you are retired look in New Mexico just across the state line. The property taxes are much lower. They have state income tax but if you are already retired that should not be a big deal.

[angerdux]

We are young retirees, with a Federal pension, and we both have chronic health issues related to back injuries. Doctors say a warm, dry climate will help. I am surprised property taxes are so high! What about the cost of home owner's insurance? I've already read enough about utilities, which are far lower than what we currently pay.

Thanks!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by angerdux

My husband and I are looking for a retirement home in the Southwest. We love El Paso, its funkiness and vibrancy. But I keep reading about high taxes on this forum. Can anyone give me an idea of property tax and general costs such as homeowner's insurance, car insurance, the price of utilities, sales tax? I would so appreciate it.

We've been thinking about the North Hills or the Northeast and we will probably look for a house in the 150-180K range.

Again, thanks.

A house in that range I would guess will cost you at least $3500-$4000 a year in total property taxes. One big problem in El Paso, is they split out all the various taxes and raise them separately to fool everyone. School taxes up one year, county hospital taxes another. If they don't raise the taxes, they up your home's appraisal.

Electricity will run about $50 a month if you don't use air conditioning or limit it. Since it's a dry desert heat, you don't need much air conditioning -- if you have trees but if you have a home with no landscaping you might want it.

[mistabinks]

You need air conditioning at least 3 months out of the year.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

You need air conditioning at least 3 months out of the year.

I haven't turned mine on yet this year but I do have fans going and windows open. Part if it is just personal preference but to me it's not "need", it's "want". I like going outdoors a lot without having a big shock in temperature differences. Many people work outdoors all summer long and when you look over at Juarez, you know many of the people living there don't have refrigerated air or evaporative coolers.

[mistabinks]

Originally Posted by malamute

you know many of the people living there don't have refrigerated air or evaporative coolers.

By necessity not by choice.

You need air conditioning at least 3 months out of the year.