Cost of living in Harlingen research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Harlingen is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Texas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Harlingen is 76, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Harlingen is 0.8x lower than the national average.
Harlingen ranks as the #10 cheapest in Texas out of 414.
Harlingen ranks as the #19 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Harlingen is $193,578.
The median income in Harlingen is $55,891.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Harlingen has an overall cost of living index of 76, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, Harlingen has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Texas's index of 92.
The standard of living in Harlingen ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 414 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies Harlingen ranks as the #404 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in Harlingen, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Harlingen. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Harlingen is 75.
The Groceries index in Harlingen is 92.
The Health index in Harlingen is 81.
The Housing index in Harlingen is 61.
The Transportation index in Harlingen is 82.
The Utilities index in Harlingen is 103.
| Living Expense | Harlingen | Texas | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 76 | 92 | 100 | |
| Services | 75 | 97 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 92 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 81 | 93 | 100 | |
| Housing | 61 | 82 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 82 | 94 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 | |
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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Harlingen is $193,578.
The Median Rent in Harlingen is $893.
The Median Income in Harlingen is $55,891.
The Home Value To Income in Harlingen is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Harlingen is 0.19x.
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Harlingen. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Brownsville, TX has a cost of living index of 78, 1.0x Harlingen.
McAllen, TX has a cost of living index of 86, 1.1x Harlingen.
Edinburg, TX has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Harlingen.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Harlingen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 188,023 | 78 | 1.0x |
| McAllen, TX | 143,789 | 86 | 1.1x |
| Edinburg, TX | 102,561 | 87 | 1.1x |
| Mission, TX | 86,234 | 86 | 1.1x |
| Pharr, TX | 79,809 | 82 | 1.1x |
| San Benito, TX | 24,677 | 71 | 0.9x |
| Alton, TX | 19,205 | 80 | 1.1x |
| Hidalgo, TX | 14,250 | 83 | 1.1x |
| La Homa, TX | 11,389 | 78 | 1.0x |
| Raymondville, TX | 10,243 | 70 | 0.9x |