CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Garden Grove, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Brownsville is dramatically cheaper than Garden Grove — 32.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $105,700 in Garden Grove. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+195.3%
Brownsville
57.7
Garden Grove
170.4
🛒 Groceries+13.6%
Brownsville
93.8
Garden Grove
106.6
🚗 Transportation+8.4%
Brownsville
101.1
Garden Grove
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+8.4%
Brownsville
91.4
Garden Grove
99.1
Utilities+95.3%
Brownsville
81.2
Garden Grove
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Garden Grove, CA
$105,700
$25,700 more needed in Garden Grove

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.3209. 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×

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Garden Grove has 195.3% 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

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

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)

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×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.