McAllen, TX vs San Diego, CA Cost of Living
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024
McAllen is dramatically cheaper than San Diego — 30.3% lower overall cost of living.
To match an $80,000 salary in McAllen, you would need $104,200 in San Diego. Calculate your salary ↓
Category Breakdown
Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.
Salary Equivalency Calculator
Enter your current salary in McAllen to see what you'd need to earn in San Diego to maintain the same purchasing power.
Formula: salary × (111.9 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.3027. 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×
San Diego, CA
- Median Home Price
- $904,000
- Median Monthly Rent
- $2,875
- Housing Index
- 179.3
- Price-to-Rent Ratio
- 26.2×
San Diego has 220.8% 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
San Diego, CA
- Median Household Income
- $103,700
- Per Capita Income
- $59,100
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.7%
- Population
- 1,386,932
Affordability at a Glance
Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).
75% of income left after rent (median)
67% of income left after rent (median)
Related Comparisons
McAllen vs other cities
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.