McAllen, TX vs Brownsville, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Brownsville, TX and McAllen, TX are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in McAllen works out to about $75,100 in Brownsville, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.3% higher in Brownsville, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,509 a month in Brownsville and $1,119 in McAllen, $4,680 a year more in Brownsville (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $205,000 in Brownsville and $189,000 in McAllen.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in McAllen and Brownsville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 55.9 | 57.7 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | McAllen | Brownsville | Brownsville vs McAllen |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | 86.0 | +0.1% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 55.9 | 57.7 | +3.3% |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 81.2 | 0.0% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,119 | $1,509 | +34.9% |
| Typical home value | $189,000 | $205,000 | +8.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in McAllen | $75,000 | $75,100 | +0.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between McAllen and Brownsville has narrowed since 2008: 1.8 points then, 0.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.9 | 85.0 |
| 2009 | 86.3 | 86.2 |
| 2010 | 87.8 | 87.1 |
| 2011 | 88.0 | 89.6 |
| 2012 | 89.2 | 89.2 |
| 2013 | 88.3 | 87.6 |
| 2014 | 89.1 | 87.9 |
| 2015 | 89.4 | 88.4 |
| 2016 | 89.8 | 89.5 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 88.0 |
| 2018 | 86.8 | 85.1 |
| 2019 | 86.8 | 87.7 |
| 2020 | 88.0 | 85.0 |
| 2021 | 87.2 | 87.8 |
| 2022 | 86.6 | 85.1 |
| 2023 | 86.1 | 85.7 |
| 2024 | 85.9 | 86.0 |
Goods
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 54.4 | 49.9 |
| 2009 | 53.7 | 54.9 |
| 2010 | 52.6 | 54.0 |
| 2011 | 54.1 | 61.3 |
| 2012 | 56.9 | 59.4 |
| 2013 | 54.8 | 54.8 |
| 2014 | 56.3 | 56.0 |
| 2015 | 56.2 | 55.3 |
| 2016 | 56.6 | 60.1 |
| 2017 | 57.0 | 56.6 |
| 2018 | 56.8 | 52.9 |
| 2019 | 55.5 | 60.1 |
| 2020 | 56.4 | 49.5 |
| 2021 | 56.3 | 55.7 |
| 2022 | 57.6 | 54.3 |
| 2023 | 57.0 | 55.7 |
| 2024 | 55.9 | 57.7 |
Utilities
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.5 | 100.9 |
| 2009 | 95.8 | 95.5 |
| 2010 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 90.3 |
| 2012 | 88.4 | 88.5 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 89.6 |
| 2014 | 92.9 | 93.0 |
| 2015 | 90.3 | 90.3 |
| 2016 | 85.9 | 85.8 |
| 2017 | 81.4 | 81.5 |
| 2018 | 83.2 | 83.2 |
| 2019 | 85.5 | 85.4 |
| 2020 | 85.1 | 85.1 |
| 2021 | 84.6 | 84.7 |
| 2022 | 86.3 | 86.4 |
| 2023 | 88.0 | 88.1 |
| 2024 | 81.2 | 81.2 |
Other services
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,509 in Brownsville vs $1,119 in McAllen
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $803 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $817 | $869 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $826 | $897 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $822 | $893 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $804 | $879 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $826 | $911 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $831 | $919 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $819 | $906 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $828 | $922 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $829 | $906 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $842 | $935 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $830 | $929 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $841 | $952 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $843 | $940 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $849 | $953 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $848 | $942 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $858 | $970 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $864 | $978 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $869 | $988 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $871 | $985 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $882 | $1,006 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $882 | $1,022 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $901 | $1,042 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $907 | $1,055 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $926 | $1,076 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $951 | $1,100 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $988 | $1,147 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $998 | $1,167 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,020 | $1,191 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,049 | $1,238 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,056 | $1,256 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,057 | $1,296 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,079 | $1,306 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,090 | $1,322 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,092 | $1,343 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,094 | $1,348 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,097 | $1,364 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,107 | $1,391 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,102 | $1,373 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,101 | $1,401 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,106 | $1,420 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,114 | $1,431 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,109 | $1,436 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,108 | $1,442 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,110 | $1,475 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,115 | $1,521 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,119 | $1,509 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $205,000 in Brownsville vs $189,000 in McAllen
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- McAllen, TX
- Brownsville, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| McAllen, TX | Brownsville, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $94K | $118K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $95K | $121K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $97K | $122K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $98K | $121K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $101K | $122K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $101K | $122K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $102K | $122K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $104K | $123K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $105K | $126K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $105K | $126K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $105K | $127K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $106K | $127K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $108K | $127K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $110K | $127K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $111K | $127K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $112K | $128K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $112K | $124K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $114K | $123K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $117K | $125K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $119K | $127K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $121K | $130K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $123K | $132K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $128K | $138K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $134K | $142K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $140K | $148K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $145K | $157K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $147K | $165K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $150K | $171K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $161K | $178K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $169K | $184K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $174K | $186K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $176K | $188K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $177K | $193K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $181K | $198K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $183K | $198K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $188K | $197K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $190K | $201K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $191K | $204K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $191K | $201K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $192K | $202K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $191K | $203K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $189K | $203K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $190K | $202K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $189K | $202K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $191K | $206K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $189K | $206K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $189K | $205K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.