salaryRent is lower than in 76% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $48,160 a year. That is $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Texas cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Texas. It is number 126 of 426 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
Compare Brownsville with other big cities
Compare Brownsville to 149 other cities →
How much do households earn in Brownsville?
Share of households by yearly income. 13.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Brownsville
| Size | Brownsville | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $652 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $790 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $955 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,173 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,271 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Brownsville overall?
Everyday prices in the Brownsville-Harlingen metro area are 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Brownsville
Life in Brownsville
What jobs pay in Brownsville
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $131,280 | 11.0% |
| Physician Assistant | $127,370 | 11.3% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,530 | 11.6% |
| Software Developer | $106,990 | 13.5% |
| Lawyer | $103,100 | 14.0% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $90,140 | 16.0% |
| Dental Hygienist | $82,860 | 17.4% |
| Registered Nurse | $81,090 | 17.8% |
| Civil Engineer | $77,720 | 18.6% |
| Operations Manager | $75,350 | 19.2% |
| Accountant | $66,440 | 21.7% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,350 | 22.8% |
| Police Officer | $56,820 | 25.4% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $56,250 | 25.7% |
| Truck Driver | $48,550 | 29.8% |
| HVAC Technician | $47,910 | 30.2% |
| Market Research Analyst | $47,320 | 30.5% |
| Plumber | $46,850 | 30.8% |
| Firefighter | $46,220 | 31.3% |
| Electrician | $46,080 | 31.4% |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,350 | 37.7% |
| Carpenter | $35,640 | 40.5% |
| Medical Assistant | $34,960 | 41.3% |
| Warehouse Worker | $32,300 | 44.7% |
| Nursing Assistant | $32,110 | 45.0% |
| Restaurant Cook | $28,670 | 50.4% |
| Retail Salesperson | $27,780 | 52.0% |
| Cashier | $26,250 | 55.0% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $21,010 | 68.8% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brownsville?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $233 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $139,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $13,990 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Brownsville, TX?
Renting in Brownsville costs a median of about $1,204 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Texas median is $1,451.
How much do I need to make to live in Brownsville?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $48,160 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Brownsville cheap or expensive?
Brownsville is rated OK: rent takes 25.7% of the typical household income of $56,222. It ranks 126th cheapest of 426 Texas cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Brownsville?
The median homeowner in Brownsville pays $2,349 a year in property taxes, about 1.68% of the median home value.
Is Brownsville more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 14% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Brownsville?
The median home value in Brownsville is $139,900, about 2.5 times the typical yearly household income.
189,177 people live in Brownsville. Numbers are typical (middle) values.