CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Columbus, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
OH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Columbus — 11.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $88,800 in Columbus. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+52.3%
Brownsville
57.7
Columbus
87.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Brownsville
93.8
Columbus
93.6
🚗 Transportation+2.8%
Brownsville
101.1
Columbus
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Brownsville
91.4
Columbus
94
Utilities+17.6%
Brownsville
81.2
Columbus
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Columbus, OH
$88,800
$8,800 more needed in Columbus

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1105. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

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

Columbus, OH

Median Home Price
$317,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
87.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Columbus has 52.3% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

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

Columbus, OH

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
905,748
Top Industries
FinanceRetailHealthcareEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Columbus, OH
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.