Brownsville, TX vs Harlingen, TX

Brownsville, TX and Harlingen, TX have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.2% difference in their overall index. Brownsville scores 68 while Harlingen scores 67 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Brownsville is $906/month compared to $893/month in Harlingen — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Harlingen has cheaper rent, Brownsville actually has lower median home values ($122,400 vs $125,700).

Median household income in Brownsville is $48,675 compared to $55,891 in Harlingen (-12.9%). Harlingen offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Brownsville spend roughly 22.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19.2% in Harlingen.