McAllen, TX vs Brownsville, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Brownsville, TX has a modeled overall cost index 3.1% higher than McAllen, TX.

McAllen, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,240 / month
Brownsville, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,050 / 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 McAllen, TX and Brownsville, 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 McAllen, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $89.34/month in Brownsville, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,072 in Brownsville, TX

Regional cost estimates: McAllen, TX uses Laredo, TX. Brownsville, TX uses Corpus Christi, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 3.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$89.34

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$1.1K

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.

McAllen, TX

Population:147K

Cost Index:

91.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$191K

Brownsville, TX

Population:190K

Cost Index:

94.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$184K

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McAllen, TX

The Lone Star State

147K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 147K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

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!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: McAllen, TX vs Brownsville, 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	McAllen, TX	Brownsville, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,006/mo	$2,236/mo	↑ $231more	11.5%
Transportation	$1,525/mo	$1,399/mo	↓ $126less	8.3%
Other	$1,849/mo	$1,896/mo	↑ $47.83more	2.6%
Groceries	$1,013/mo	$971/mo	↓ $42.78less	4.2%
All Utilities	$548/mo	$525/mo	↓ $23.13less	4.2%
Healthcare	$559/mo	$562/mo	↑ $2.85more	0.5%

Housing

↑ 11.5%

McAllen, TX

$2,006

Brownsville, TX

$2,236

Difference

$231

Transportation

↓ 8.3%

McAllen, TX

$1,525

Brownsville, TX

$1,399

Difference

$126

less

Other

↑ 2.6%

McAllen, TX

$1,849

Brownsville, TX

$1,896

Difference

$47.83

Groceries

↓ 4.2%

McAllen, TX

$1,013

Brownsville, TX

$971

Difference

$42.78

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.2%

McAllen, TX

$548

Brownsville, TX

$525

Difference

$23.13

less

Healthcare

↑ 0.5%

McAllen, TX

$559

Brownsville, TX

$562

Difference

$2.85

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$980

To$780

↓ $200

1 Bed

From$990

To$870

↓ $120

2 Bed

From$1,240

To$1,050

↓ $190

3 Bed

From$1,610

To$1,420

↓ $190

McAllen, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$1,050/mo

Brownsville, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$1,030/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 McAllen, TX

$7,589

Monthly in Brownsville, TX

$89.34

Difference

Home Values

McAllen

Brownsville

$191K

Median Value

$184K

↓ -2.1%

YoY Change

↑ +2.1%

↑ +37.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +50.9%

$178K - $260K

Price Range

$169K - $228K

Homes in Brownsville are 4% less expensive than McAllen

Calculate payment - McAllen Calculate payment - Brownsville

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

McAllen, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

McAllen, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Brownsville, 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

McAllen

Brownsville

45 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

57.7%

Good Air Days

48.6%

89 Moderate

Climate Risk

97 High

🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

151 days

Heat Days >95°F

52 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

151 days

Heat Days >95°F

52 days

Before moving from McAllen, TX to Brownsville, TX

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Brownsville, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in McAllen, 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 McAllen to Brownsville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: McAllen, TX vs Brownsville, TX

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

Brownsville, TX has a modeled overall cost index 3.1% higher than McAllen, 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 McAllen, TX, the model estimates $151,072 in Brownsville, 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 McAllen, TX and Brownsville, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,240/month in McAllen, TX and $1,050/month in Brownsville, 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.