CostIndexUSA

McAllen, TX vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
MN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

McAllen is moderately cheaper than Rochester — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in McAllen, you would need $84,600 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+40.6%
McAllen
55.9
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries+1.7%
McAllen
93.8
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation4.3%
McAllen
101.1
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare4.2%
McAllen
91.4
Rochester
87.6
Utilities+7.6%
McAllen
81.2
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$84,600
$4,600 more needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0570. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Rochester has 40.6% higher housing costs compared to McAllen.

Income & Job Market

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

McAllen, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, MN
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.