CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IN vs Brownsville, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Bloomington
95.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Bloomington — 9.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $72,300 in Brownsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing32.6%
Bloomington
85.6
Brownsville
57.7
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bloomington
94.3
Brownsville
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.9%
Bloomington
104.1
Brownsville
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Bloomington
94.2
Brownsville
91.4
Utilities6.1%
Bloomington
86.5
Brownsville
81.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Brownsville, TX
$72,300
$7,700 less needed in Brownsville

Formula: salary × (86 ÷ 95.1) = salary × 0.9043. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Home Price
$288,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
85.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Brownsville, TX

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

Bloomington has 32.6% lower housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IN

Median Household Income
$58,700
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
79,168
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentRetail

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).

Bloomington, IN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.