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Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Cost of living in Brownsville, Texas

Cameron County, TX

Part of the Brownsville Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,476/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 423,192 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $757 31%
Healthcare $480 19%
Groceries $334 13%
Federal tax $331 13%
Transport $320 13%
Energy $199 8%
Water $55 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Brownsville

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$666
per month
1 bedroom
$757
per month
2 bedroom
$948
per month
3 bedroom
$1,264
per month
4 bedroom
$1,310
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Brownsville

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$51,334
per year
Individual earnings
$30,283
per year
Per capita
$23,142
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Brownsville

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$120,000
Annual property tax
$1,946

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Brownsville

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$167
per month · 14.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$32
per month
Annual total
$2,388
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Brownsville

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
26.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Brownsville

State and local tax rates for Texas.

No state income tax
Texas does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
6.3%
Combined sales tax
8.2%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Brownsville

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.6 min
Drive alone
77.7%
Public transit
0.5%
Work from home
8.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Brownsville

What it costs to live in Brownsville each month.

Single person
$2,476
per month
  • Rent $757
  • Energy $199
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $334
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $331
  • State tax $0
Couple
$3,601
per month
  • Rent $948
  • Energy $239
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $553
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $512
  • State tax $0
Family
$6,059
per month
  • Rent $1,264
  • Energy $298
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $840
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $512
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Brownsville

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Brownsville?

In Brownsville, Texas, a one-bedroom apartment averages $757 per month, a two-bedroom averages $948 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,264 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Brownsville?

In Brownsville, Texas, the average household income is $51,334 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $30,283 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Brownsville?

The estimated cost of living in Brownsville, Texas is approximately $2,476 per month for a single person, $3,601 for a couple, $6,059 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Brownsville?

The combined sales tax rate in Brownsville, Texas is 8.19%, which includes the Texas state rate of 6.25% plus an average local rate of 1.94%.

Is Brownsville an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Brownsville, Texas would need approximately $2,476 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $51,334 per year ($4,278 per month). Brownsville has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Brownsville?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Brownsville, Texas is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 26.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Brownsville?

The average home value in Brownsville, Texas is $120,000, with average annual property taxes of $1,946, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Brownsville compare to other areas?

You can compare Brownsville, Texas with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Brownsville is in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area.

Other counties in Texas

Browse the full list of counties in Texas, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Texas

Compare Brownsville with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources