What is the cost of living in Brownsville, TX?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Brownsville has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, Brownsville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Texas's index of 93.
The standard of living in Brownsville ranks as #97 most affordable out of the 419 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies Brownsville ranks as the #322 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in Brownsville, check out:
Brownsville Cost Of Living Vs. Texas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Brownsville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Brownsville is 97.
The Groceries index in Brownsville is 102.
The Health index in Brownsville is 58.
The Housing index in Brownsville is 102.
The Transportation index in Brownsville is 109.
The Utilities index in Brownsville is 95.
| Living Expense | Brownsville | Texas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 58 | 81 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 100 | 100 |
Brownsville Cost Of Living Compared To Texas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Texas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Brownsville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Brownsville, TX Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Texas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Brownsville is $195,993.
The Median Rent in Brownsville is $923.
The Median Income in Brownsville is $52,130.
The Home Value To Income in Brownsville is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Brownsville is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Brownsville | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $195,993 | $300,957 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $923 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,130 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Brownsville, TX Costs By Category
Detailed Brownsville Services costs vs. Texas
| Item | Brownsville | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.22 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.97 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.42 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Brownsville Groceries costs vs. Texas
| Item | Brownsville | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.53 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.68 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.42 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.43 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Brownsville Health costs vs. Texas
| Item | Brownsville | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $109.53 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $133.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Brownsville Transportation costs vs. Texas
| Item | Brownsville | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.0 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.28 | $59.92 |
Detailed Brownsville Utilities costs vs. Texas
| Item | Brownsville | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $196.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $201.86 | $192.25 |
Brownsville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Brownsville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Brownsville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Edinburg, TX has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Brownsville.
Pharr, TX has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Brownsville.
Harlingen, TX has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Brownsville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Brownsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburg, TX | 104,550 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Pharr, TX | 80,333 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Harlingen, TX | 72,087 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Weslaco, TX | 42,229 | 87 | 1.0x |
| San Benito, TX | 24,709 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Alamo, TX | 20,255 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Donna, TX | 16,833 | 79 | 0.9x |
| Mercedes, TX | 16,733 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Raymondville, TX | 10,185 | 80 | 0.9x |
| Los Fresnos, TX | 8,291 | 91 | 1.0x |
