CostIndexUSA

Atlanta, GA vs Brownsville, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Atlanta
100.1
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Atlanta — 14.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlanta, you would need $68,700 in Brownsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing48.0%
Atlanta
111
Brownsville
57.7
🛒 Groceries6.6%
Atlanta
100.4
Brownsville
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Atlanta
101.5
Brownsville
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Atlanta
91.9
Brownsville
91.4
Utilities15.6%
Atlanta
96.2
Brownsville
81.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlanta to see what you'd need to earn in Brownsville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Brownsville, TX
$68,700
$11,300 less needed in Brownsville

Formula: salary × (86 ÷ 100.1) = salary × 0.8591. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlanta, GA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
111
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Atlanta has 48.0% lower housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Atlanta, GA

Median Household Income
$86,500
Per Capita Income
$49,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
498,715
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyMediaHealthcareLogistics

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlanta, GA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.