CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Huntsville, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
AL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Huntsville — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $86,600 in Huntsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+35.0%
Brownsville
57.7
Huntsville
77.9
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Brownsville
93.8
Huntsville
96.4
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Brownsville
101.1
Huntsville
101.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Brownsville
91.4
Huntsville
91.9
Utilities+3.3%
Brownsville
81.2
Huntsville
83.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$86,600
$6,600 more needed in Huntsville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.0826. 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×

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Huntsville has 35.0% 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

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

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)

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.