Harlingen, TX vs McAllen, TX

Harlingen is moderately more affordable than McAllen, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Harlingen scores 67 compared to 75 for McAllen, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of McAllen can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Harlingen is $893/month compared to $1,017/month in McAllen — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Harlingen is more affordable at $125,700 median vs $173,800.

Median household income in Harlingen is $55,891 compared to $60,165 in McAllen (-7.1%). The higher salaries in McAllen partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Harlingen spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, less than the 20.3% in McAllen.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (75°F vs 77.4°F). Harlingen receives more rainfall at 24" per year compared to 22.2" in McAllen.