Between Anaheim and El Paso, the best place is always El Paso. Anaheim is costly. El Paso has affordable living with lots of activities available. It is also easier to commute to El Paso. Plus, the city has festivals which make it more exciting.
Of course, there are downfalls to living in El Paso. There are a few hurdles you have to overcome when you live here.
One such hurdle is the summer which can be harsh.
On the other hand, Anaheim has excellent weather and is home to Disneyland. The city is also close to the coastline and many beaches.
But the housing costs in Anaheim can break your bank. And that is a significant downfall.
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What are the pros and cons of Anaheim vs. El Paso?
Anaheim has excellent weather and is near the beach, and it also has a strong economy. Summers can be harsh in El Paso, though. On the other hand, El Paso presents you with affordable living, outdoor activities, and festivals all year round.
Disneyland calls Anaheim home.
The presence of Disneyland in Anaheim contributed to a more robust economy. The city became a tourist magnet because of the theme park. It is the happiest place on earth.
But visiting is different from moving here to live.
The cost of living is higher. The city is also overcrowded.
Plus, the crime rates are higher.
On the other hand, El Paso in Texas is more affordable. It presents its residents with different outdoor activities. Plus, it has festivals almost all year round.
However, the city of El Paso may not be as accessible to other major cities. The closest is Albuquerque, and traveling here could take you a day.
Also, their summers here are bad.
But why is El Paso better than Anaheim?
Read on to find out.
Anaheim Living
Mild weather, close distance to the beach, and a strong economy; what’s there not to love in Anaheim?
Pros
Here are the advantages I am sure you will like about Anaheim
- The Beaches
- Strong Market Economy
- Great Weather
I should clarify that Anaheim is geographically not directly along the Pacific Coast.
But its position on the map offers it quick access to many beaches.
One of these beaches is in Newport Beach. Another beach near Anaheim is Long Beach. The same is valid with Huntington Beach.
These three are the closest to Anaheim.
About a half-hour drive from Anaheim, you are at any of these beaches.
Other options you can take are the beaches on Santa Monica Bay, Laguna Beach, or Dana Point.
Anaheim has an unemployment rate of 3% by the end of December 2021. The number is a bit lower than the national average, which was 3.9% by the end of the year.
The city’s healthy economy is significant because of its tourism industry. Disneyland is a magnet for tourists. Aside from employing Anaheim residents, being a tourism magnet encouraged more investors to put up their businesses in the city.
Such businesses employ more than 20,000 residents per year.
Aside from these, giants like AT&T, Isuzu, and Sunny Delight also call Anaheim home.
Here, you will also find more prominent companies like Extron Electronics and Honda Center.
Thanks to its geographical location, Anaheim enjoys excellent weather all year round.
The Mediterranean climate provides the residents of Anaheim with fair weather. Temperatures from December until March are only up to around the 60s.
From April until June, it can go up to the lower 70s but never go over the 80s even until August.
There is little rain all year round.
And Anaheim is always sunny, gorgeous, and temperate the whole year.
Cons
Not everything in Anaheim is rosy. It also has a few challenges that its residents have to deal with.
Here they are.
- The Cost of Living
- Overcrowded
Anaheim is in California.
And almost every city in California is expensive.
To be fair with Anaheim, it is cheaper than most major cities in the state. But its housing costs can skyrocket.
Anaheim’s housing and rental costs are more expensive than the national average by more than 100%.
Aside from that, the overall cost of living index is more than 152. The number states that the city is 52% more expensive than the national average.
Anaheim is populated. It is more congested than other cities.
Traffic is also an issue when in Anaheim.
The problem with overcrowding goes beyond traffic. It also appears that in Anaheim, there is more demand than supply in almost anything.
El Paso Living
Living in El Paso comes with many advantages like a low cost of living and outdoor activities. The city is also a hub of culture and has many festivals all year round.
On the other hand, its geographical location puts the city far away from most major cities in the state.
Pros
Here are a few benefits of living in El Paso.
- The Cost of Living
- Easy Commute
- Outdoor Activities
Densely populated, the city of El Paso is home to a large military area, thanks to Fort Bliss.
It is a large city home to industrial businesses, entertainment, communities, and recreational activities.
What makes El Paso unique is its cost of living.
The cost of living here is affordable.
Housing and rental, for example, are more affordable in El Paso. Most of the city’s residents even own their homes.
In El Paso, the commute is short.
There are no other neighboring cities. And so, everything is fully localized in a town.
The average commuting time in El Paso is around 25 minutes. And that is already long.
Now, the average commuting time in the US is 27.6 minutes. El Paso’s 25 minutes is not that bad.
El Paso is perfect for you if you love the outdoors and scenic views.
The city is close to activities like biking and rock climbing. And if you love hiking, you can always hike through some beautiful scenic views.
El Paso has trails like McKelligon Canyon road. The Lost Dog Trail Loop is also advisable.
Festivals
All year round, El Paso is host to about 20 popular festivals.
And yes, I am only talking about the popular ones. There are smaller festivals in between these large festivals.
El Paso has festivals for almost anything. The Ice Cream Festival, the Lobster Festival, and the Sun City Craft Beer Fest.
A Sky Lantern Festival is also celebrated here. And there’s a Balloon Fest here, too!
Cons
Naturally, there are downsides to El Paso that you should know.
Here are a few of them.
- Proximity to Other Areas
- The Brutal Summers
El Paso is a beautiful city. But one disadvantage with living here is its isolation.
Geographically, the city is not close to other major cities.
The closest city to El Paso is about a hundred or so miles away. So, when you feel like going to the nearest city, Albuquerque, you need more than just a day trip.
From May until September, El Paso’s summers can be brutally hot.
The extreme heat outside can be harmful, especially for those who plan on staying out for long periods.
The hot weather also poses a challenge for outdoor enthusiasts. The same is true for those organizing festivals during summer.
El Paso or Anaheim – Which is cheaper?
When it comes to the overall cost of living, El Paso is cheaper than Anaheim. Anaheim is 52.2% more expensive than the US average. El Paso is 18.6% more affordable than the national average.
| Living Expenses | Anaheim | El Paso |
| Housing | 257.1 | 56.5 |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5 | 92 |
| Health | 95.9 | 86.7 |
| Utilities | 97.4 | 97.1 |
| Transportation | 118 | 91.9 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
Let us first start with housing and rental costs.
One of the most apparent differences between the two cities is the cost of housing.
El Paso is about 43.5% cheaper than the national average. That is almost half of the housing costs of most cities in the US!
Now, compare it with the housing costs in Anaheim. Anaheim has housing costs that are 157.1% more than the national average.
The difference is glaring.
And from this part onward, you would quickly see that El Paso is winning this battle, hands down.
Utility Costs
When it comes to utility costs, Anaheim is still more expensive than El Paso.
As of this writing, Anaheim’s utility costs are cheaper than the national average by 2.6%.
On the other hand, El Paso has utility costs that are 2.9%% lesser than the national average. It makes El Paso more affordable in utility costs.
Talking of utility costs, we mean the costs of electricity, heating, garbage disposal, and the like.
The difference between the two cities in utility costs may not be much. But over time, this difference will show. And these are essential costs that should always be part of your budget.
El Paso is much cheaper than Anaheim in this aspect.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries can make or break your monthly budget.
El Paso is cheaper and sits 8% below the national average in food and groceries, for starters.
On the other hand, Anaheim is more expensive than the national average by 2.5%.
When it comes to food and groceries, El Paso is cheaper.
Transportation Costs
Both cities are more expensive than the national average regarding transportation costs.
But the difference is that El Paso is below the national average while Anaheim is more expensive than the US.
El Paso is only 8.1% more affordable than the national average. On the other hand, Anaheim is 18% more expensive than the US average.
The difference is glaring.
And this part of your budget is essential because this part of the budget ensures you get to work or school on time.
Healthcare
El Paso is still more affordable than Anaheim when it comes to the cost of healthcare.
El Paso is way cheaper, from doctor’s fees to medicines for colds.
You would most likely spend less in El Paso between the two cities.
The cost of healthcare is cheaper in Anaheim than the national average by 4.1%. On the other hand, El Paso is more affordable than the national average by 13.3%.
Healthcare is an important aspect of your budget.
It should take center stage when finalizing your budget.
Is El Paso bigger than Anaheim?
In terms of land area, El Paso is bigger than Anaheim. El Paso has a land area of 259.3 square miles. Anaheim’s land area is 50.3 square miles.
The difference between the two cities is enormous. But the more significant difference is in its population as well.
El Paso will have a population of 963,000 by the end of 2021. On the other hand, Anaheim only has 349,000 residents by the end of 2021.
El Paso has a population density of 2,670 people per square mile. Anaheim’s population density is at 6,949 people per square mile.
Is El Paso safer than Anaheim?
In both cities, crime rates are of opposite sides. Comparing the two, the crime rates in El Paso are lower. In a nutshell, people in El Paso feel safer than those in Anaheim.
First of all, is the crime index.
Let me tell you that El Paso is one of the safest cities in the US.
And the numbers speak for themselves.
For instance, the crime index in El Paso is only at 32.72%. Compare this number with that of Anaheim.
The crime index in Anaheim is at 46.76%
Such a number only implies more crimes in Anaheim than in El Paso.
People in El Paso feel safer than those that are in Anaheim.
Most crimes in Anaheim are at moderate levels. But if there are crimes in high percentages, these are property crimes like vandalism and theft. Anaheim has its numbers sitting at 61.11%
This number is already a significant percentage by itself. But if you compare it with El Paso, the latter is much lower with 38.56%.
Even crimes related to drug use are lower in El Paso at 43.40%. The same type of crime is at 69.12% in Anaheim.
Overall, Anaheim has higher crime rates than El Paso.
Is Anaheim better than El Paso?
El Paso is better than Anaheim in many respects. An essential factor to consider is the crime rates. El Paso is safer. Plus, there are more options for outdoor activities in El Paso. Finally, El Paso is way cheaper than Anaheim.
Choosing between the two cities is easy.
Anaheim is more expensive compared to El Paso.
Both cities are great. And I am sure you would most likely do well in any of these cities.
But the glaring difference in each city’s cost of living makes El Paso the better option.
Housing costs in El Paso are way cheaper than in Anaheim. Plus, El Paso has fewer crimes compared to Anaheim.
If you and I talk of the disadvantages of living in El Paso, it is just the harsh summers and the proximity to major cities.
El Paso, an isolated city, will not bother you if you are the type of person who does not continuously crave day trips and vacations.
Besides, El Paso has an ice cream festival.
That seals the deal.
How about you?
Would you also choose El Paso?
Let me know.