Quote from RPEX:
Main point to consider here is the fact that fills on SPX are still terrible when traded electronically. Someone will correct me, but technically the quotes you see for SPX options aren't necessarily firm so if you send a market order it might not be filled. On spreads i have waited up to 3 minutes before for confirmation. SPXpm options should be better in this regard, but i think ES is tighter.
Also it depends on your objectives. For example if are you trying to trade the vol then hedging SPX will involve another exchange's future, and you might not get cross margining benefits. ES is probably the more flexible one.
From a pricing point of view they are obviously different as well.