CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Richmond, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
VA
Richmond
97.9
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Richmond — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $91,100 in Richmond. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+71.8%
Brownsville
57.7
Richmond
99.1
🛒 Groceries+3.2%
Brownsville
93.8
Richmond
96.8
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Brownsville
101.1
Richmond
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Brownsville
91.4
Richmond
93.7
Utilities+9.9%
Brownsville
81.2
Richmond
89.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Richmond, VA
$91,100
$11,100 more needed in Richmond

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1384. 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×

Richmond, VA

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
99.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.2×

Richmond has 71.8% 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

Richmond, VA

Median Household Income
$84,300
Per Capita Income
$48,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
226,610
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

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)

Richmond, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.