CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Fremont, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
CA
Fremont
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Brownsville is dramatically cheaper than Fremont — 34.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $107,500 in Fremont. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+237.4%
Brownsville
57.7
Fremont
194.7
🛒 Groceries+15.7%
Brownsville
93.8
Fremont
108.5
🚗 Transportation+10.3%
Brownsville
101.1
Fremont
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+10.4%
Brownsville
91.4
Fremont
100.9
Utilities+112.6%
Brownsville
81.2
Fremont
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Brownsville to see what you'd need to earn in Fremont to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fremont, CA
$107,500
$27,500 more needed in Fremont

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.3442. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Fremont, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

Fremont has 237.4% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Fremont, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
230,504
Top Industries
TechnologyManufacturingHealthcareRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Fremont, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.