CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Kansas City, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
MO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Kansas City — 7.6% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+50.1%
Brownsville
57.7
Kansas City
86.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Brownsville
93.8
Kansas City
94.1
🚗 Transportation3.1%
Brownsville
101.1
Kansas City
98
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Brownsville
91.4
Kansas City
88.7
Utilities+9.6%
Brownsville
81.2
Kansas City
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kansas City, MO
$86,000
$6,000 more needed in Kansas City

Formula: salary × (92.5 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.0756. 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×

Kansas City, MO

Median Home Price
$312,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.9×

Kansas City has 50.1% 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

Kansas City, MO

Median Household Income
$79,800
Per Capita Income
$45,500
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
508,394
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernment

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)

Kansas City, MO
4.6×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.