Brownsville, TX vs Wichita Falls, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wichita Falls, TX has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% lower than Brownsville, TX.

Brownsville, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,050 / month
Wichita Falls, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,120 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Brownsville, TX and Wichita Falls, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Brownsville, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $574/month in Wichita Falls, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,114 in Wichita Falls, TX

Regional cost estimates: Brownsville, TX uses Corpus Christi, TX. Wichita Falls, TX uses Fort Worth, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 6.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$574

Savings

Annual Impact

$6.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Brownsville, TX

Population:190K

Cost Index:

94.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$184K

Wichita Falls, TX

Population:103K

Cost Index:

88.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$180K

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Brownsville, TX

The Lone Star State

190K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 190K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Wichita Falls, TX

The Lone Star State

103K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 103K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Brownsville, TX vs Wichita Falls, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Brownsville, TX	Wichita Falls, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,210/mo	$1,945/mo	↓ $265less	12.0%
Other	$1,874/mo	$1,667/mo	↓ $207less	11.0%
Transportation	$1,382/mo	$1,242/mo	↓ $141less	10.2%
Healthcare	$556/mo	$607/mo	↑ $51.50more	9.3%
Groceries	$959/mo	$919/mo	↓ $40.14less	4.2%
All Utilities	$519/mo	$546/mo	↑ $27.52more	5.3%

Housing

↓ 12.0%

Brownsville, TX

$2,210

Wichita Falls, TX

$1,945

Difference

$265

less

Other

↓ 11.0%

Brownsville, TX

$1,874

Wichita Falls, TX

$1,667

Difference

$207

less

Transportation

↓ 10.2%

Brownsville, TX

$1,382

Wichita Falls, TX

$1,242

Difference

$141

less

Healthcare

↑ 9.3%

Brownsville, TX

$556

Wichita Falls, TX

$607

Difference

$51.50

Groceries

↓ 4.2%

Brownsville, TX

$959

Wichita Falls, TX

$919

Difference

$40.14

less

All Utilities

↑ 5.3%

Brownsville, TX

$519

Wichita Falls, TX

$546

Difference

$27.52

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$780

To$820

↑ $40.00

1 Bed

From$870

To$910

↑ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,050

To$1,120

↑ $70.00

3 Bed

From$1,420

To$1,530

↑ $110

Brownsville, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$1,030/mo

Wichita Falls, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$1,020/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Brownsville, TX

$6,926

Monthly in Wichita Falls, TX

$574

Difference

Home Values

Brownsville

Wichita Falls

$184K

Median Value

$180K

↑ +2.1%

YoY Change

↓ -0.2%

↑ +50.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.3%

$169K - $228K

Price Range

$77K - $243K

Homes in Wichita Falls are 2% less expensive than Brownsville

Calculate payment - Brownsville Calculate payment - Wichita Falls

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Brownsville, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Wichita Falls, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Brownsville, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Wichita Falls, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Brownsville

Wichita Falls

51 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

48.6%

Good Air Days

35.5%

97 High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

52 days

Heat Days >95°F

94 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

52 days

Heat Days >95°F

94 days

Before moving from Brownsville, TX to Wichita Falls, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Wichita Falls, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Brownsville, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Brownsville to Wichita Falls moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Wichita Falls, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Brownsville, TX vs Wichita Falls, TX

How do the cost estimates for Brownsville, TX and Wichita Falls, TX compare?

Wichita Falls, TX has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% lower than Brownsville, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Brownsville, TX, the model estimates $143,114 in Wichita Falls, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Brownsville, TX and Wichita Falls, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,050/month in Brownsville, TX and $1,120/month in Wichita Falls, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.