City comparison
Brownsville, TX vs McAllen, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Brownsville, TX (86.0) and McAllen, TX (85.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Brownsville, TX goes as far as $99,900 in McAllen, TX.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $866 a month in Brownsville, TX and $847 in McAllen, TX.
- Both are in TX, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Brownsville, TX to McAllen, TX changes real buying power by +0.1%, purely from prices.
- Brownsville, TX: price level 86.0 (much cheaper)
- McAllen, TX: price level 85.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Brownsville, TX | McAllen, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 86.0 | 85.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,907 in McAllen | $100,093 in Brownsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $866/mo | $847/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $36,490 | $35,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA. Metro areas: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Brownsville | McAllen |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 57.7 | 55.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 86.0 | 85.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Brownsville, TX → McAllen, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
McAllen, TX → Brownsville, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Brownsville, TX to McAllen, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Brownsville, TX | McAllen, TX | Real change, Brownsville → McAllen |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Brownsville, TX | McAllen, TX | McAllen pay in Brownsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,350 | $63,110 | $63,169 (−0.3%) |
| Software Developers | $106,990 | $116,120 | $116,228 (+8.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $66,440 | $64,470 | $64,530 (−2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,090 | $80,540 | $80,615 (−0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.