CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Fort Worth, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
TX
Fort Worth
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Brownsville is significantly cheaper than Fort Worth — 19.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $95,900 in Fort Worth. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+104.3%
Brownsville
57.7
Fort Worth
117.9
🛒 Groceries+9.6%
Brownsville
93.8
Fort Worth
102.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Brownsville
101.1
Fort Worth
104.7
🏥 Healthcare+3.6%
Brownsville
91.4
Fort Worth
94.7
Utilities+11.7%
Brownsville
81.2
Fort Worth
90.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Worth, TX
$95,900
$15,900 more needed in Fort Worth

Formula: salary × (103.1 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1988. 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×

Fort Worth, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Fort Worth has 104.3% 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

Fort Worth, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
918,915
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsFinance

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)

Fort Worth, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.