CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
TX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than San Antonio — 10.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $88,100 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+64.0%
Brownsville
57.7
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Brownsville
93.8
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Brownsville
101.1
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Brownsville
91.4
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities+1.2%
Brownsville
81.2
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$88,100
$8,100 more needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1012. 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×

San Antonio, TX

Median Home Price
$274,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
94.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

San Antonio has 64.0% 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

San Antonio, TX

Median Household Income
$73,200
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
1,434,625
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingGovernment

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)

San Antonio, TX
4.4×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.