Uprootmap
McAllen vs Brownsville
McAllen and Brownsville
Photo: 25or6to4 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Brownsville are under the US rate in this release, 2.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at McAllen to Brownsville
In 2022-2023, 881 households filed a move from McAllen to Brownsville (about 1,785 people, average adjusted gross income $45,785). 1,019 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $863 in McAllen and $979 in Brownsville. McAllen has no state tax on wages. Brownsville has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Brownsville is 80% of the national level for the same work, against 80% in McAllen.
Brownsville averages 233 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 57°F. McAllen is 237 sunny days, 97°F in July, 55°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Brownsville and 23 in McAllen.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 881 households moved McAllen → Brownsville (about 1,785 people, average AGI $45,785). 1,019 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between McAllen and Brownsville changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 57 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$2,950
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $350–$700
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Dig into Brownsville
Questions
Is Brownsville cheaper than McAllen after tax and rent?
No. Brownsville leaves about $135 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $863 in McAllen and $979 in Brownsville.
Does Brownsville have state income tax?
Brownsville is in Texas, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from McAllen to Brownsville?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.