CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Montgomery, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
AL
Montgomery
89.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Brownsville is slightly cheaper than Montgomery — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $83,400 in Montgomery. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.4%
Brownsville
57.7
Montgomery
64.3
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Brownsville
93.8
Montgomery
96.4
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Brownsville
101.1
Montgomery
101.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Brownsville
91.4
Montgomery
91.9
Utilities+4.6%
Brownsville
81.2
Montgomery
84.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Montgomery, AL
$83,400
$3,400 more needed in Montgomery

Formula: salary × (89.7 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.0430. 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×

Montgomery, AL

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
64.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Montgomery has 11.4% 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

Montgomery, AL

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
199,518
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareManufacturingEducation

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)

Montgomery, AL
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.