CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
KS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Brownsville is slightly cheaper than Lawrence — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $83,900 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+24.1%
Brownsville
57.7
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Brownsville
93.8
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Brownsville
101.1
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
Brownsville
91.4
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities+10.0%
Brownsville
81.2
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.0488. 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×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Lawrence has 24.1% 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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

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)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.