Cost of Living in McAllen, TX
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
85.9
U.S. average = 100 · #369 of 387
Median wage
$35,830
all jobs · $2,581/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$847
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in McAllen, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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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.
Take-home pay in McAllen, TX
Your take-home pay
$30,969
per year · effective tax rate 13.6%
$2,581Monthly
$1,290Twice a month
$1,191Every 2 weeks
$14.89Hourly
- 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
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $239,200+ | $212,057 | $246,879 |
| Pharmacist | $137,700 | $105,384 | $122,689 |
| Financial Manager | $129,290 | $99,636 | $115,997 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,550 | $95,029 | $110,634 |
| Managers, All Other | $119,430 | $92,849 | $108,096 |
| Lawyer | $115,920 | $90,380 | $105,221 |
| Physical Therapist | $103,980 | $81,980 | $95,442 |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $103,380 | $81,558 | $94,951 |
| Sales Manager | $101,440 | $80,193 | $93,362 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $97,180 | $77,196 | $89,873 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $89,860 | $72,047 | $83,877 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $88,910 | $71,378 | $83,099 |
| Construction Manager | $83,450 | $67,537 | $78,627 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $81,890 | $66,440 | $77,350 |
| Registered Nurse | $80,540 | $65,490 | $76,244 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $80,390 | $65,384 | $76,121 |
| General and Operations Manager | $74,570 | $61,290 | $71,355 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $73,920 | $60,833 | $70,822 |
| Project Management Specialist | $69,910 | $58,012 | $67,538 |
| Compliance Officer | $69,290 | $57,576 | $67,030 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in McAllen, TX
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $129,290
- Managers, All Other — $119,430
- Sales Manager — $101,440
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $97,180
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $88,910
- Construction Manager — $83,450
- General and Operations Manager — $74,570
- Food Service Manager — $49,240
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $73,920
- Project Management Specialist — $69,910
- Compliance Officer — $69,290
- Accountant and Auditor — $64,470
- Human Resources Specialist — $53,600
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $48,350
- Training and Development Specialist — $48,260
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Computer User Support Specialist — $50,460
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $80,390
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $58,040
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $39,610
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $115,920
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $47,330
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Instructional Coordinator — $81,890
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $63,760
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $63,110
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School — $62,830
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $62,600
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,560
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,500
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $60,720
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $29,700
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $29,520
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $27,260
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $48,980
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $137,700
- Nurse Practitioner — $122,550
- Physical Therapist — $103,980
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $89,860
- Registered Nurse — $80,540
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $59,870
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $59,060
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $56,250
- Pharmacy Technician — $38,490
- Emergency Medical Technician — $33,620
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $37,230
- Medical Assistant — $34,810
- Nursing Assistant — $33,990
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $23,960
Protective Service Occupations
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $103,380
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $58,360
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $46,300
- Security Guard — $29,290
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,270
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $29,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $28,380
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,960
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,740
- Dishwasher — $23,140
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,790
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $22,510
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,650
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $19,910
- Bartender — $18,940
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $31,300
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $29,060
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $26,740
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Recreation Worker — $30,870
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $23,830
- Childcare Worker — $22,310
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $55,950
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $49,350
- Insurance Sales Agent — $48,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $38,480
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $30,770
- Parts Salesperson — $29,070
- Retail Salesperson — $27,420
- Cashier — $27,020
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $64,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $55,570
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $45,660
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $41,960
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $40,670
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $39,500
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $39,010
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $38,790
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $38,290
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $36,370
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks — $36,310
- Customer Service Representative — $35,830
- Teller — $35,730
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $34,980
- Office Clerks, General — $32,130
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $28,530
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $60,370
- Electrician — $46,930
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $39,200
- Construction Laborer — $34,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $61,710
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $47,500
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $47,170
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $39,920
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $37,870
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $52,110
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $37,440
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $29,820
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $49,630
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $47,040
- Bus Drivers, School — $42,680
- Light Truck Driver — $35,350
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $31,610
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $31,500
- Driver/Sales Worker — $29,660
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $25,720
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $23,550