CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Idaho Falls, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
ID
Idaho Falls
94.4
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Idaho Falls — 9.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $87,800 in Idaho Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+45.6%
Brownsville
57.7
Idaho Falls
84
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Brownsville
93.8
Idaho Falls
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.8%
Brownsville
101.1
Idaho Falls
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Brownsville
91.4
Idaho Falls
94
Utilities14.2%
Brownsville
81.2
Idaho Falls
69.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Idaho Falls, ID
$87,800
$7,800 more needed in Idaho Falls

Formula: salary × (94.4 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.0977. 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×

Idaho Falls, ID

Median Home Price
$399,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.8×

Idaho Falls has 45.6% 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

Idaho Falls, ID

Median Household Income
$75,800
Per Capita Income
$43,200
Unemployment Rate
2.1%
Population
64,818
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAgricultureRetailGovernment

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)

Idaho Falls, ID
4.5×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.