Cost of living index

McAllen, TX

85.9 / 100

Living in McAllen, TX is 14.1% cheaper than the US average — the #372 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $925/mo

Median home value: $124,000

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider McAllen, TX metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
75° / 55°F
(24° / 13°C)
2.5 in precip
Spring
88° / 68°F
(31° / 20°C)
4.8 in precip
Summer
98° / 79°F
(37° / 26°C)
6.9 in precip
Fall
88° / 68°F
(31° / 20°C)
7.9 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP, via NOAA.

The McAllen, TX metro area has an overall price level of 85.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 14.1% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 55.9 it is 44.1% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#372 of 387
85.9
Goods#317 of 387
93.8
Housing rents#353 of 387
55.9
Utilities#313 of 387
81.2
Other services#312 of 387
96.2

McAllen, TX is moved down the most by housing rents, at 55.9 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

See all 26 metros in Texas →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is McAllen, TX an expensive place to live?

McAllen, TX has an overall cost-of-living index of 85.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 14.1% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in McAllen, TX?

Housing rents in McAllen, TX score 55.9 against a US average of 100 — roughly 44.1% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does McAllen, TX compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in McAllen, TX sit at 85.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 55.9. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.