When discussing where to live before retirement, most people react similarly when El Paso is mentioned.

"You want to retire and live in El Paso?"

While many might consider Florida or Arizona, not many think of El Paso as a retirement city.

However, looking at evaluations from the U.S. and the actual cost of living, the story changes a bit.

In a retirement destination evaluation conducted by StorageCafe, El Paso ranked 11th in the U.S. and 1st in Texas.

It received a higher rating than Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.

This is based on a combination of life expectancy, housing prices, cost of living, crime rates, and retiree income. At that time, the life expectancy in the El Paso area was reported to be 80.1 years.

However, it's important to note that this 11th place ranking is from a previous StorageCafe survey, not the most recent 2026 rankings.

In the 2026 Niche evaluation, El Paso received a B grade for retiree living conditions.

This means it may not be considered the best retirement paradise in the U.S., but it is competitive enough as a retirement option.

The biggest advantage is definitely the housing prices.

According to 2026 StorageCafe data, the median home value in El Paso is about $224,500, and the average monthly rent for an apartment is $1,131.

For retirees selling a home in California, this allows for significant savings on housing costs, freeing up funds for living expenses and retirement savings.

Taxes are also favorable for retirees. Texas has no state income tax, so there are no additional state taxes on Social Security, IRA or 401(k) withdrawals, or regular pensions. Of course, federal income tax is a separate issue, and Texas's high property taxes must be factored in. Just because housing is affordable doesn't mean taxes are low.

Healthcare is another critical factor when choosing a retirement location.

In this regard, El Paso performs better than expected. In the 2026 evaluation by Healthgrades, Las Palmas Medical Center ranked first in Texas for Critical Care and was included among the top 100 Critical Care hospitals in the U.S. Both Las Palmas and Del Sol Medical Center were selected as part of America's 250 Best Hospitals in 2026, placing them in the top 5% of hospitals in the U.S. based on clinical standards.

The weather is also a plus. El Paso has a sunny, low-humidity desert climate. There are many days in winter suitable for outdoor activities. However, it's not necessary to assert that "dry weather is good for joints" as a medical effect; it varies from person to person. Compared to northern areas where people may be stuck indoors for months worrying about snow removal and icy roads, El Paso clearly offers advantages in terms of active retirement living.

There are downsides as well.

The high dependence on cars can make life inconvenient if one can no longer drive as they age. It's difficult to rely solely on public transportation for accessing hospitals, grocery shopping, and cultural activities like in New York or Chicago. The Korean community infrastructure, including Korean markets, hospitals, restaurants, and churches, is not comparable to that in LA or Dallas.

Thus, El Paso is better suited for those who want to live quietly and save on living costs rather than for those seeking a vibrant retirement lifestyle.

Especially for those who can cash out their housing assets in expensive areas, it's worth considering.

After retirement, it becomes more important to preserve the money you have rather than how much you earn.

In that regard, El Paso is a surprisingly good option.

While it may not be a well-known retirement city in the U.S., perhaps its lack of fame is what keeps its prices competitive.