Cost of Living in McAllen, TX
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in McAllen, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is McAllen, TX?
With a price level of 85.9 (U.S. average = 100), McAllen, TX is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 44% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 19% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in McAllen, TX vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | −14.1% |
| Housing | 55.9 | −44.1% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 81.2 | −18.8% |
| Other services | 96.2 | −3.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in McAllen, TX
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $842 | $33,680/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $847 | $33,880/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,060 | $42,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,376 | $55,040/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,522 | $60,880/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in McAllen, TX
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in McAllen, TX | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,400 | $29,820 |
| $60,000 | $51,500 | $43,560 |
| $80,000 | $68,700 | $57,160 |
| $100,000 | $85,900 | $69,261 |
| $150,000 | $128,800 | $99,301 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Texas 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning McAllen, TX's median wage of $35,830 takes home about $2,581 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $847, which is 33% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,734 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in McAllen, TX
- Federal income tax$2,120
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,221
- Medicare (1.45%)$520
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,969
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in McAllen, TX
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Texas cities
Half of Texas’s 14,071,160 workers earn less than $48,620 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,370–$77,840 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Austin, TX stretches a paycheck furthest, while McAllen, TX is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | $51,440 | 103.1 | $1,586 | 44% | $2,040 | $42,208 |
| Houston, TX | $49,410 | 98.6 | $1,316 | 38% | $2,174 | $42,463 |
| Austin, TX | $56,950 | 98.1 | $1,562 | 39% | $2,433 | $48,885 |
| San Antonio, TX | $47,010 | 94.7 | $1,171 | 35% | $2,158 | $42,181 |
| El Paso, TX | $39,510 | 89.9 | $1,012 | 36% | $1,815 | $37,733 |
| McAllen, TX | $35,830 | 85.9 | $847 | 33% | $1,734 | $36,055 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $45,350 | 92.7 | $1,115 | 35% | $2,103 | $41,673 |
| Lubbock, TX | $42,130 | 91.3 | $974 | 32% | $2,029 | $39,458 |
| Beaumont, TX | $48,630 | 90.0 | $898 | 26% | $2,540 | $45,815 |
| Brownsville, TX | $36,490 | 86.0 | $866 | 33% | $1,759 | $36,638 |
| Killeen, TX | $46,660 | 91.1 | $982 | 30% | $2,324 | $43,532 |
| College Station, TX | $44,470 | 91.0 | $1,082 | 34% | $2,077 | $41,684 |
| Waco, TX | $46,020 | 92.5 | $966 | 30% | $2,297 | $42,309 |
| Amarillo, TX | $44,580 | 91.8 | $903 | 29% | $2,264 | $41,385 |
| Midland, TX | $54,480 | 95.8 | $1,449 | 38% | $2,381 | $47,978 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
McAllen, TX vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, TX | 85.9 | $847 | $35,830 | 296,700 |
| Syracuse, NY | 95.7 | $1,123 | $52,990 | 300,130 |
| Toledo, OH | 91.5 | $820 | $48,220 | 291,530 |
| Stockton, CA | 105.1 | $1,395 | $48,990 | 289,660 |
| Provo, UT | 98.2 | $1,265 | $48,010 | 304,660 |
| Cape Coral, FL | 102.3 | $1,638 | $46,780 | 304,790 |
| Portland, ME | 101.9 | $1,548 | $56,960 | 288,480 |
Frequently asked questions
Is McAllen, TX expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area are 85.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 55.9%. It is the #369 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in McAllen, TX?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,537 in McAllen, TX (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $35,830.
Can you afford McAllen, TX on the median wage?
A single worker on the $35,830 median wage takes home about $2,581 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $847 would take 33% of that.
How much is rent in McAllen, TX?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for McAllen, TX are $842 for a studio, $847 for one bedroom, $1,060 for two bedrooms and $1,376 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in McAllen, TX
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $74,570
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $63,110
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,560
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,500
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $29,520
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,540
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $34,810
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $23,960
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $29,290
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,270
- Cooks, Restaurant — $28,380
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,790
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,650
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $38,480
- Retail Salesperson — $27,420
- Cashier — $27,020
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $55,570
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $39,010
- Customer Service Representative — $35,830
- Office Clerks, General — $32,130
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $47,040
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $31,610