City comparison
Akron, OH vs Brownsville, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 8.6% higher than in Brownsville, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Brownsville, TX would need about $108,600 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $985 a month in Akron, OH versus $866 in Brownsville, TX. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Akron, OH and 13% in Brownsville, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,968 a year higher in Akron, OH than in Brownsville, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Brownsville, TX ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.0% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Brownsville, TX: price level 86.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 86.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,080 in Brownsville | $108,601 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $866/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $36,490 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Brownsville-Harlingen, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Brownsville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 57.7 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 86.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Brownsville, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.6%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$1,968/yr.
96 Strong offer
Brownsville, TX → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,968/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Brownsville, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Brownsville, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Brownsville, TX | Real change, Akron → Brownsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | +4.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | +4.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | +4.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | +4.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | +4.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Brownsville, TX | Brownsville pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $63,350 | $68,799 (−12.4%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $106,990 | $116,193 (+10.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $66,440 | $72,155 (−8.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $81,090 | $88,065 (+9.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.